MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Leaders at Wisconsin’s elections board say plans to make changes after a critical state audit could be hampered by cuts in Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed budget. The Government Accountability Board is among several agencies that would see many of its behind-the-scenes functions consolidated under a pilot program. The state Department of Administration would operate the program, which would affect functions including budgeting, financing, and information technology. The director of the nonpartisan elections board says their specialized IT needs wouldn’t fit well into the program. The agency maintains a Wisconsin voter registration database, and it tracks lobbyists and campaign funding. Wisconsin Republicans want change at the elections board in light of the audit. They’ve also been critical of it after it approved an investigation into whether Walker’s 2012 campaign coordinated illegally with conservative groups.
