The Wisconsin State Department of Transportation (WisDOT), through a decision made by Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI), will create an Office of Inspector General position to review all transportation-related programs and initiatives for inefficiencies, waste, fraud, and abuse.
According to WisDOT, the new position will serve as an executive-level advisor to the Secretary of Transportation and will work with executive leadership within the department. Should any inefficiencies or waste be found, the inspector will then make recommendations for implementing policy and program improvements.
“I would like to thank the Governor for providing us this leadership as we work to improve the way that we do business here at the Department of Transportation,” Wisconsin State Secretary of Transportation Dave Ross said. “WisDOT has great potential to accomplish more within our current budget. We are committed to finding savings and putting these savings into improved roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure.”
The office was officially created through Executive Order no.255, which details both the roles and responsibilities for the position and requires a report to be submitted biannually to the Secretary of Transportation starting in December 2018. Each report will detail all relevant findings and subsequent recommendations made by the office in order to better inform policymakers going forward.