Legislative audit bureau
Wis. Stat. § 13.94
in effectThere is created a bureau to be known as the “Legislative Audit Bureau,” headed by a chief known as the “State Auditor.” The bureau shall be strictly nonpartisan and shall at all times observe the confidential nature of any audit currently being performed. Subject to s. 230.35 (4) (a) and (f), the state auditor or designated employees shall at all times with or without notice have access to all departments and to any books, records or other documents maintained by the departments and relating to their expenditures, revenues, operations and structure, including specifically any such books, records, or other documents that are confidential by law, except as provided in sub. (4) and except that access to documents of counties, cities, villages, towns or school districts is limited to work performed in connection with audits authorized under sub. (1) (m) and except that access to documents of the opportunity schools and partnership programs under s. 119.33, subch. IX of ch. 115, and subch. II of ch. 119 is limited to work performed in connection with audits authorized under sub. (1) (os). In the discharge of any duty imposed by law, the state auditor may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths and take testimony and cause the deposition of witnesses to be taken as prescribed for taking depositions in civil actions in circuit courts.
(1) Duties of the bureau. The legislative audit bureau shall be responsible for conducting postaudits of the accounts and other financial records of departments to assure that all financial transactions have been made in a legal and proper manner. In connection with such postaudits, the legislative audit bureau shall review the performance and program accomplishments of the department during the fiscal period for which the audit is being conducted to determine whether the department carried out the policy of the legislature and the governor during the period for which the appropriations were made. In performing postaudits under this subsection, the legislative audit bureau shall not examine issues related to academic freedom within the University of Wisconsin System. A postaudit shall not examine into or comment upon the content of the various academic programs, including degree requirements, majors, curriculum or courses within the University of Wisconsin System, nor shall any such postaudit examine into the manner in which individual faculty members or groups of faculty members conduct their instructional, research or public service activities. This subsection does not preclude the bureau from reviewing the procedures by which decisions are made and priorities set in the University of Wisconsin System, or the manner in which such decisions and priorities are implemented within the University of Wisconsin System, insofar as such review is not inconsistent with s. 36.09. The legislative audit bureau shall audit the fiscal concerns of the state as required by law. To this end, it shall:
(b) At the state auditor’s discretion or as the joint legislative audit committee directs, audit the records of each department. Audits of the records of a county, city, village, town, or school district may be performed only as provided in par. (m). Audits of the records of the opportunity schools and partnership programs under s. 119.33, subch. IX of ch. 115, and subch. II of ch. 119 may be performed only as provided in par. (os). After completion of any audit under this paragraph, the bureau shall file with the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, the governor, the department of administration, the legislative reference bureau, the joint committee on finance, the legislative fiscal bureau, and the department audited, a detailed report of the audit, including the bureau’s recommendations for improvement and efficiency and including specific instances, if any, of illegal or improper expenditures. The chief clerks shall distribute the report to the joint legislative audit committee, the appropriate standing committees of the legislature, and the joint committee on legislative organization.
(br)
1. Maintain a toll-free telephone number with voice mail at the bureau’s office to receive reports of fraud, waste, and mismanagement in state government. Except as provided in subd. 2., the bureau shall relay these reports to the appropriate bureau employee for investigation. If the bureau has a bureau employee investigate the report, the employee may, subject to subd. 3., consult with any department for any purpose related to the investigation. The bureau shall publicize the toll-free telephone number on the bureau’s Internet site. The bureau shall maintain records that permit the release of information provided by informants while protecting the identity of the informant. Any records maintained by the bureau that relate to the identity of informants shall be only for the confidential use of the bureau in the administration of this section, unless the informant expressly agrees to release the records. Appearance in court as a witness shall not be considered consent by an informant to release confidential records maintained by the bureau.
2. In lieu of requiring a bureau employee to conduct an investigation of a report received under subd. 1., the bureau may refer a report to a department for investigation. The department shall conduct the investigation and deliver the results of the investigation to the bureau in a timely manner.
3. The bureau shall at all times before an investigation of a report received under subd. 1. is completed keep confidential the report and investigation and any information arising from the investigation, except as necessary to conduct the investigation.
(c) At the state auditor’s discretion or as the joint legislative audit committee directs, audit the central accounting records of the department of administration. A detailed report of such audit shall be filed as provided by par. (b), and copies shall be provided to each member or member-elect of the legislature and shall be available in limited number to the public. The bureau shall also prepare a summary of such audit report, for distribution in the same manner as the Wisconsin Blue Book under s. 35.84.
(dc) At least once every 5 years, contract for the performance of an actuarial audit of the Wisconsin retirement system. The legislative audit bureau shall file a copy of each audit report under this paragraph with the distributees specified in par. (b).
(dd) Annually, conduct a financial audit of the department of employee trust funds, to include financial statements and an evaluation of accounting controls and accounting records maintained by the department for individual participants and employers. Within 30 days after completion of such audit the bureau shall file with the governor, the legislative reference bureau, the department of administration and the department of employee trust funds a detailed report thereof, including specific instances, if any, of illegal or improper transactions.
(de) At least once every 3 years, perform a financial audit of the state life insurance fund and the injured patients and families compensation fund.
(df) Annually, perform a financial audit of the investment board, including an assessment of the fair presentation of the financial statements and an evaluation of the internal control structure of the board. As part of the financial audit, the bureau shall identify certain statutes and policies and guidelines adopted by the board and shall determine the extent of compliance by the board with the statutes, policies and guidelines. Biennially, the bureau shall conduct a performance evaluation audit of the investment board that includes an audit of the board’s policies and management practices.
(dg) At the state auditor’s discretion or as the joint legislative audit committee directs, perform a financial audit of expenditures made under the grants for dental services under s. 250.10.
(dm) At the state auditor’s discretion or as the joint legislative audit committee directs, perform a financial audit of the state fair park board and of any private corporation with which the board contracts under s. 42.01 (4) (b).
(dp) In addition to any other audit to be performed under this section relating to veterans homes, perform one or more financial audits of the operation of the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Chippewa Falls by any private entity with which the department of veterans affairs enters into an agreement under s. 45.50 (2m) (c). The audit shall be performed at such time as the legislature directs.
(dr) Biennially, beginning in 2013, conduct a financial audit of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and a program evaluation audit of the economic development programs administered by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation under ch. 238. The legislative audit bureau shall file a copy of each audit report under this paragraph with the distributees specified in par. (b).
(ds) After June 30, 2026, conduct a program evaluation audit of the agricultural exports program under s. 93.425. No later than December 31, 2026, the legislative audit bureau shall file a copy of each audit report under this paragraph with the distributees specified in par. (b).
(e) Make such special examinations of the accounts and financial transactions of any department, agency or officer as the legislature, joint legislative audit committee or joint committee on legislative organization directs. Examinations of the accounts and transactions of a county, city, village, town, or, subject to par. (os), of a school district, may be performed only as authorized in par. (m).
(eg) At the state auditor’s discretion or as the joint legislative audit committee directs, conduct a performance evaluation audit of the division of gaming in the department of administration. The legislative audit bureau shall file a copy of each audit report under this paragraph with the department of justice and with the distributees specified in par. (b).
(em) Annually conduct a financial audit of the state lottery, and, to the extent of the department of revenue’s participation, of any multijurisdictional lotteries in which the state participates under ch. 565, and at the state auditor’s discretion or as the joint legislative audit committee directs, conduct a performance audit of the state lottery and, to the extent of the department of revenue’s participation, of those multijurisdictional lotteries, as provided in s. 565.37 (1). The legislative audit bureau shall file a copy of each audit report under this paragraph with the department of justice and with the distributees specified in par. (b).
(h) Disseminate information concerning department accounting, auditing and fiscal matters.
(i) Prepare a statement of recommendations submitted in each audit report pertaining to department operations, which statement shall be available to any person upon request.
(j) Prepare a biennial report of its activities, including recommendations for efficiency and economy in the expenditure of appropriations made by the legislature. The bureau shall file the report with the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) at the beginning of each regular session and with the governor and department of administration no later than January 15 of each odd-numbered year.
(L) Monitor and review purchases and purchasing procedures of departments and, at the state auditor’s discretion or as the joint legislative audit committee directs, report to the joint legislative audit committee concerning the extent to which departments purchase materials, supplies, or equipment manufactured outside of the United States.
(m) Audit the records of any county, city, village, town or school district at the direction of the joint legislative audit committee. The committee may direct an audit of a county department under s. 46.215 at any time. The committee may not direct more than 3 other audits of counties, cities, villages, towns or school districts in any calendar year.
(mg) At the state auditor’s discretion, or as the joint legislative audit committee directs, perform a financial and performance evaluation audit of the Milwaukee County mental health board and of mental health functions, programs, and services in Milwaukee County including a review of the effectiveness of the Milwaukee County mental health board and new policies implemented under that board in providing mental health services, a review of the expenditures of the Milwaukee County mental health board, a review of Milwaukee County’s expenditures for mental health functions, programs, and services and the outcomes of those programs and services in the period after the formation of the Milwaukee County mental health board. The legislative audit bureau shall file a copy of the audit report under this paragraph with the distributees specified in par. (b) and the Milwaukee County executive and the Milwaukee County board of supervisors. The audit under this paragraph does not count toward the limit of audits of a county in a calendar year in par. (m).
(os) Beginning in 2017, and biennially thereafter, prepare a performance evaluation audit of the opportunity schools and partnership programs under s. 119.33, subch. IX of ch. 115, and subch. II of ch. 119. The legislative audit bureau shall file a copy of the report of the audit under this paragraph with the distributees specified in par. (b).
(t) Annually conduct a financial audit of the University of Wisconsin System. This audit shall also include an evaluation of compliance with the requirements under s. 36.11 (3) (b). The legislative audit bureau shall file a copy of each audit report under this paragraph with the distributees specified in par. (b).
(u) Beginning in 2018, annually for 5 years, evaluate the process used by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to verify information under s. 238.396 (4) (d) and evaluate whether the corporation appropriately verified, in accordance with statutory and contractual requirements, the amount of tax credits eligible claimants may claim under ss. 71.07 (3wm) and 71.28 (3wm).
(v) Conduct an audit, at the request of the department of corrections, of a county’s net operating costs for a secured residential care center for children and youth that holds female juveniles for the purpose of determining the amount, if any, of a net operating loss to be reimbursed by the department of corrections to a county under s. 301.373. The bureau shall report the result of the audit to the department of corrections as soon as practicable.
(w) Once every 5 years, conduct a financial audit of expenditures of revenues generated by the sales and use taxes imposed under ss. 77.70 (2) and 77.701.
(x) Annually, conduct a financial audit of the retirement systems of Milwaukee County and the city of Milwaukee, to include financial statements and an evaluation of accounting controls and accounting records maintained by the systems for individual participants and departments. Within 30 days after completion of such audit, the bureau shall file with the legislature under s. 13.172 (2), the governor, the legislative reference bureau, the department of administration, and the respective systems a detailed report thereof, including specific instances, if any, of illegal or improper transactions.
(y) At least once every 5 years, contract for an actuarial audit of the retirement systems of Milwaukee County and the city of Milwaukee.
(z) After the end of each fiscal biennium, concluding with the 2049-51 fiscal biennium, conduct a financial audit of a local professional baseball park district created under subch. III of ch. 229. The legislative audit bureau shall file a copy of each audit report under this paragraph with the distributees specified in par. (b).
(zm) Biennially, beginning in 2027, prepare a performance evaluation audit of the program to accredit productions for purposes of ss. 71.07 (5f) and (5h), 71.28 (5f) and (5h), and 71.47 (5f) and (5h) by the state film office.
(1m) Independent experts. The legislative audit bureau may contract for the services of such independent professional or technical experts as deemed necessary to carry out the statutory duties and functions of the bureau within the limits of the amount provided under s. 20.765 (3) (c) and, in the case of postaudits involving the performance and program accomplishments of a department, shall contract for the services of such subject matter and program specialists from any state or federal agency or public institution of higher learning as deemed necessary by the joint committee on legislative organization.
(1s) Authorized charges.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in par. (c), the legislative audit bureau may charge any department for the reasonable cost of auditing services performed at the request of a department or at the request of the federal government that the bureau is not required to perform under sub. (1) (b) or (c) or any other law. This paragraph does not apply to counties, cities, villages, towns, or school districts or to the opportunity schools and partnership programs under sub. (1) (os).
(b) The legislative audit bureau may charge the department of revenue for the reasonable costs of an audit performed under sub. (1) (em) and for verification of the odds of winning a lottery game under s. 565.37 (5).
(bm) The legislative audit bureau may charge the department of administration for the cost of an audit performed under sub. (1) (eg).
(c) The legislative audit bureau shall charge the following entities for the following audits:
1. The department of employee trust funds for the cost of the audits required to be performed under sub. (1) (dc) and (dd).
1m. The retirement systems of Milwaukee County and the city of Milwaukee for the cost of the audits required to be performed of those systems under sub. (1) (x) and (y).
1s. Milwaukee County and the city of Milwaukee for the cost of the audits required to be performed under sub. (1) (w).
2. The office of the commissioner of insurance for the cost of the audit required to be performed under sub. (1) (de).
3. The investment board for the cost of any audit required to be performed under sub. (1) (df).
5. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation for the cost of the audit required to be performed under sub. (1) (dr).
7. The state fair park board for the cost of an audit performed under sub. (1) (dm).
8. The University of Wisconsin System for the cost of an audit performed under sub. (1) (t).
9. The department of corrections for the cost of an audit performed under sub. (1) (v).
10. A local professional baseball park district created under subch. III of ch. 229 for the cost of the audit required to be performed under sub. (1) (z).
(2) State auditor, qualifications. To be eligible for appointment as state auditor a person shall have training equivalent to that represented by graduation from a college or university with work in accounting, finance, economics, statistics, program evaluation, business management or such other subjects as are determined by the joint committee on legislative organization to be appropriate.
(3) Duties of the state auditor. The state auditor shall:
(a) Direct the immediate operations of the bureau.
(b) Employ, supervise and train, outside the classified service, a deputy state auditor and other personnel assigned to the state auditor.
(c) Supervise all expenditures of the bureau.
(d) Execute such directions and requests as may be given by the joint committee on legislative organization pursuant to its statutory responsibility.
(e) Subject to the approval of the joint committee on legislative organization, attend such midwest and national meetings as will benefit the operation of the bureau.
(4) Scope of authority.
(a) In this section, “department” means:
1. Every state department, board, examining board, affiliated credentialing board, commission, independent agency, council or office in the executive branch of state government; all bodies created by the legislature in the legislative or judicial branch of state government; any public body corporate and politic created by the legislature including specifically the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Lower Fox River Remediation Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, a professional baseball park district, a local professional football stadium district, a local cultural arts district and a long-term care district under s. 46.2895; every Wisconsin works agency under subch. III of ch. 49; every provider of medical assistance under subch. IV of ch. 49; technical college district boards; every county department under s. 51.42 or 51.437; every nonprofit corporation or cooperative or unincorporated cooperative association to which moneys are specifically appropriated by state law; and every corporation, institution, association or other organization which receives more than 50 percent of its annual budget from appropriations made by state law, including subgrantee or subcontractor recipients of such funds.
2. Any foundation, corporation or partnership created by an entity specified under subd. 1.
3. Any county, city, village, town or school district.
5. A local service agency designated under s. 101.35 (3), 1991 stats.
6. Any local exposition district under subch. II of ch. 229.
(b) In performing audits of long-term care districts under s. 46.2895, Wisconsin works agencies under subch. III of ch. 49, providers of medical assistance under subch. IV of ch. 49, corporations, institutions, associations, or other organizations, and their subgrantees or subcontractors, the legislative audit bureau shall audit only the records and operations of such providers and organizations which pertain to the receipt, disbursement or other handling of appropriations made by state law.
(c) In performing audits of a county department under s. 46.215, the legislative audit bureau may include program, fiscal, compliance and management elements in the audit and the audit may be directed toward any of the following:
1. Examination of procedures for applying for and receiving grants and services administered by the county department under s. 46.215.
2. A general examination of the efficiency and effectiveness with which programs are administered by the county department under s. 46.215.
3. A measurement of how effectively the goals and objectives of programs are being met by the county department under s. 46.215, including a determination of whether the county department has considered alternatives which might yield the desired results at a lower cost.
4. An examination of whether financial operations are properly conducted, whether the financial and accounting reports of the county department under s. 46.215 are fairly presented and whether the county department has complied with applicable laws, rules and regulations of the state and federal governments governing the programs under its administration.
(5) Treatment of classified employees. Notwithstanding sub. (3) (b), those individuals holding positions in the classified service at the legislative audit bureau who achieved permanent status in class on July 31, 1981, shall retain, while serving in the unclassified service in the legislative audit bureau, those protections afforded employees in the classified service under ss. 230.34 (1) (a) and 230.44 (1) (c) relating to demotion, suspension, discharge or layoff, except that the applicability of any reduction in base pay of such an employee shall be determined on the basis of the base pay received by the employee on July 31, 1981, plus the total amount of any subsequent general economic increases approved by the joint committee on employment relations for nonrepresented employees in the classified service. Such employees shall also have reinstatement privileges to the classified service as provided under s. 230.33 (1). Employees of the legislative audit bureau holding positions in the classified service on July 3l, 1981, who have not achieved permanent status in class in any position in the legislative audit bureau on that date are eligible to receive the protections and privileges preserved under this subsection if they successfully complete the probationary period required for the position which they hold.
(8) County and municipal best practices reviews.
(a) In this subsection, “municipality” means a city, village or town.
(b) The state auditor shall undertake periodic reviews to:
1. Examine the procedures and practices used by counties and municipalities to deliver governmental services.
2. Determine the methods of governmental service delivery.
3. Identify variations in costs and effectiveness of such services between counties and municipalities.
4. Recommend practices to save money or provide more effective service delivery.
(c) The state auditor shall determine the frequency, scope and subject of any reviews conducted under par. (b).
(d) To assist the state auditor with the selection of county and municipal practices to be reviewed by the auditor, the auditor shall establish an advisory council consisting of the following members appointed by the auditor:
1. Two members chosen from among 6 names submitted by the Wisconsin Counties Association.
2. One member chosen from among 3 names submitted by the League of Wisconsin Municipalities.
4. One member chosen from among 3 names submitted by the Wisconsin Towns Association.
(e) The members of the council appointed under par. (d) shall serve without compensation.
(10) Financial status of certain professional sports districts. As promptly as possible following the end of each state fiscal biennium in which there are outstanding bonds or notes issued by a local professional baseball park district created under subch. III of ch. 229 that are subject to s. 229.74 (7) or by a local professional football stadium district created under subch. IV of ch. 229 that are subject to s. 229.830 (7), the legislative audit bureau shall submit a report to the cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance concerning the financial status of that district.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/13.94Fetched: 10/7/2026