We note that 30 of the 74 hotline reports (40.5 percent) were state-related. The majority of these reports pertained to alleged agency mismanagement. As of December 31, 2025, we had resolved directly or by referral one of the 30 state-related reports to the hotline, and we determined that one report was unfounded, unsubstantiated, or no action was required. As of January 1, 2026, 28 of the 30 state-related hotline reports remained under review.
Fraud, Waste, and Mismanagement Hotline
Semiannual Report: July 2025 - December 2025Report 26-02 | January 2026
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, 2025, through December 31, 2025, including the 30 state-related reports we received.
We received a total of 74 reports from July 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025
We highlight a finding related to selected hotline reports
Specifically, we highlight a finding related to selected hotline reports we resolved since the publication of our last semiannual report (report 25-11). We found two Department of Corrections security staff worked 12-hour shift schedules that did not conform to schedules that had been approved, which resulted in higher overtime costs.