MADISON – Senator Eric Wimberger (R-Oconto) and Rep. Robert Wittke (R-Caledonia) issued the following statement after the release of Report 25-28, Dairy Processor and Meat Processor Infrastructure Grant Programs by the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection – the latest part in a continuing audit of the Administration of State Grants:
“We applaud the ongoing work of our state auditors to ensure the Administration of State Grants are following the law. Certifying that the Dairy and Meat Processor Grant Programs are in line with their intended purposes is critical to industry investments for dairy producers and meat processors in Wisconsin.
The Legislature’s most recent state budget continued important investments in our state grant programs, including these grants to help small dairy processors grow and expand their operations. We will continue to work with the Department to ensure the auditors’ recommendations are implemented.”
In Report 25-28, state auditors made 23 recommendations for improvements and to ensure compliance with the original intent of each grant initiative.
In March, the Audit Committee ordered an audit on the administration of state grants to ensure transparency and accountability in how the state issues funding. The audit empowers state auditors to select various grant programs across state agencies and assess the extent to which each agency follows state law and best practices in administering its grants.
The release of Report 25-25, Harbor Assistance Program and Report 25-26, Local Roads Improvement Program related to Department of Transportation grants were released first. More installments of the state grant audit are expected in the coming weeks and months.
