Audit Bureau says Wisconsin spent $1.5B in federal stimulus money in 4 months after law passed

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Audit: Wisconsin spent $1.5B in stimulus money

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin spent $1.5 billion in federal stimulus money in the first four months after the law was passed, according to an audit released Thursday.

The spending included $572 million to expand benefits for unemployed workers, $552 million in payments to school districts and $342 million to support state health care programs, according to the Legislative Audit Bureau report.

Other stimulus money spent in the budget year that ended June 30 covered food stamps, highway planning and construction and other programs. The money was part of the $13.6 billion the state received in federal assistance that year, up from $10 billion the prior year, according to the report, an annual look at how the state spends federal aid.

Wisconsin is expected to receive an additional $3.0 billion under the stimulus law in coming years, the report said. President Barack Obama signed the $787 billion law in February 2009 to stimulate the economy by supporting unemployed workers, giving aid to states, and investing in education, clean energy and other priorities.

Auditors warned their job will be more challenging this year because they will have to review “significantly more” stimulus programs and spending as the money continues to flow to Wisconsin for a wider variety of initiatives. Many of the grants have specific rules to ensure accountability, the report noted.

Wisconsin landed $810 million in stimulus money to build a high-speed train line between Madison and Milwaukee. Leading Republicans have been slamming the project as a costly boondoggle. But Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle defended it Tuesday, saying its construction will create hundreds of jobs in coming years.