We note that 28 of the 59 hotline reports (47.5 percent) were state-related. The majority of these reports pertained to alleged agency mismanagement. As of December 31, 2024, we had resolved directly or by referral 2 of the 28 state-related reports to the hotline, and we determined that 13 reports were unfounded, unsubstantiated, or no action was required. As of January 1, 2025, 13 of the 28 state-related reports remained under review.
Fraud, Waste, and Mismanagement Hotline
Semiannual Report: July 2024 – December 2024Report 25-03 | January 2025
SUMMARY
As required by s. 13.94 (1) (br), Wis. Stats., the Legislative Audit Bureau operates a toll-free hotline (1-877-FRAUD-17) that allows the public and individuals within state government to confidentially report alleged fraud, waste, and mismanagement. Callers may remain anonymous, and the Bureau is statutorily required to protect their identities even when other information is made public.
We highlight the activity of the Bureau’s Fraud, Waste, and Mismanagement Hotline for the period from July 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024, including the 28 state-related reports we received.
We received a total of 59 reports from July 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024
We highlight selected hotline activities
Specifically, we highlight selected hotline activities since the publication of our last semiannual report (report 24-8), including:
- concerns about alleged absences from work by an employee of the Department of Children and Families; and
- the efforts of the Department of Administration and the Fox River Navigational System Authority to implement the recommendations we made in report 23-10.