Lowering property taxes while ensuring excellence in public service
A groundswell of public concern about the affordability of property taxes on the one hand and the need to maintain Wisconsin’s critical infrastructure on the other has prompted several statewide leadership groups to join forces in a historic search for solutions called The Wisconsin Way.
The original conveners of the Wisconsin Way—the Wisconsin Counties Association, the Wisconsin Education Association Council, Wisconsin Realtors Association, Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association and Wood Communications Group will host a series of public forums throughout the state to gather a variety of perspectives on the property tax issue.
“We’re looking for ideas, answers and opinions, and we want to hear from as many Wisconsin voices as we can, ” says Jim Wood, president of Wood Communications Group. “The Wisconsin Way will build on our state’s unique tradition of encouraging public conversation that is inclusive, fair, innovative and effective.”
The basic problem, Wood says, is that “Most people value their local services and the quality of life those services help secure, but they are concerned about their ability to pay for those services in the future.” He points out, for example, that while residents appreciate the local government services they receive and don’t believe local government is spending too much on these services, they have serious concerns about the taxes they have to pay. Property taxes in Wisconsin, for example, now rank 8th highest in the nation when measured against income. With the cost of living outpacing wage growth for many Wisconsin residents, growing family budget pressure is resulting in rising concerns about the property tax burden. A full 79 percent of Wisconsin residents say they have a lot less or somewhat less money at the end of each month than they did a year ago. (Checkpoint Survey, conducted by Wood Communications Group, July 2007). When asked how much of a burden property taxes place on the family budget, 74 percent of state residents say the burden is very great or somewhat great. (WCA Survey, conducted by Wood Communications Group, Sept. 2006)
“Wisconsin is facing some tremendous challenges, but we also have some great opportunities,” Wood says, “We need to come together to talk about our options.”
Proponents of the Wisconsin Way believe that in order to keep the quality of these services and continue to meet the challenges of the economy, we must find new more efficient and equitable funding solutions and to that end are hosting twelve public conversations around the state this fall and early winter. Community members are encouraged to attend and voice their opinions and concerns at these town-hall style public meetings and community team leaders are being sought to help with the organization and turnout effort. The initial round of public forums will engage residents with the issues at hand and begin to solicit their views on possible solutions. A second series of public forums to be held in early 2008 will distill these views and begin the process of developing realistic and effective policy solutions. All events will be free and open to the public and local news media will be invited to attend.
“We believe this effort is essential to keep Wisconsin’s economy strong and preserve the quality of life we all cherish,” says Bob Burke of the Wisconsin Educators Association Council. “The involvement of a variety of groups and individuals of all ages and backgrounds is critical to the development of public policy that transcends partisan politics and provides lasting solutions. We’re hoping for a strong turnout from our membership in The Wisconsin Way meetings because we believe this broad-based coalition has the potential to create historic change and become a model for other states.”
Please join other Wisconsin residents at The Wisconsin Way public forums in the following locations*:
La Crosse – Thursday, Oct. 10
Wausau – Monday, Oct. 15
Appleton – Monday, October 22
Eau Claire – Thursday, Oct. 18
Green Bay – Tuesday, Oct. 30
Superior – Thursday, Nov. 1
Oshkosh – Thursday, Nov. 6
Waukesha – Thursday, Nov. 8
Janesville – Tuesday, Nov. 13
Milwaukee – Tuesday, Nov. 27
Kenosha – Tuesday, Dec. 4
Madison – Monday, Dec. 6
*Dates and locations are subject to change
Please visit the Web site, www.wisconsinway.org to register yourself, colleagues and friends to attend one of The Wisconsin Way forums. You may also register or get more information about this critical issue, by calling them at 1-800-919-3012 or e-mailing them at wisconsinway@wcgpr.com.
The original conveners of the Wisconsin Way—the Wisconsin Counties Association, the Wisconsin Education Association Council, Wisconsin Realtors Association, Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association and Wood Communications Group will host a series of public forums throughout the state to gather a variety of perspectives on the property tax issue.
“We’re looking for ideas, answers and opinions, and we want to hear from as many Wisconsin voices as we can, ” says Jim Wood, president of Wood Communications Group. “The Wisconsin Way will build on our state’s unique tradition of encouraging public conversation that is inclusive, fair, innovative and effective.”
The basic problem, Wood says, is that “Most people value their local services and the quality of life those services help secure, but they are concerned about their ability to pay for those services in the future.” He points out, for example, that while residents appreciate the local government services they receive and don’t believe local government is spending too much on these services, they have serious concerns about the taxes they have to pay. Property taxes in Wisconsin, for example, now rank 8th highest in the nation when measured against income. With the cost of living outpacing wage growth for many Wisconsin residents, growing family budget pressure is resulting in rising concerns about the property tax burden. A full 79 percent of Wisconsin residents say they have a lot less or somewhat less money at the end of each month than they did a year ago. (Checkpoint Survey, conducted by Wood Communications Group, July 2007). When asked how much of a burden property taxes place on the family budget, 74 percent of state residents say the burden is very great or somewhat great. (WCA Survey, conducted by Wood Communications Group, Sept. 2006)
“Wisconsin is facing some tremendous challenges, but we also have some great opportunities,” Wood says, “We need to come together to talk about our options.”
Proponents of the Wisconsin Way believe that in order to keep the quality of these services and continue to meet the challenges of the economy, we must find new more efficient and equitable funding solutions and to that end are hosting twelve public conversations around the state this fall and early winter. Community members are encouraged to attend and voice their opinions and concerns at these town-hall style public meetings and community team leaders are being sought to help with the organization and turnout effort. The initial round of public forums will engage residents with the issues at hand and begin to solicit their views on possible solutions. A second series of public forums to be held in early 2008 will distill these views and begin the process of developing realistic and effective policy solutions. All events will be free and open to the public and local news media will be invited to attend.
“We believe this effort is essential to keep Wisconsin’s economy strong and preserve the quality of life we all cherish,” says Bob Burke of the Wisconsin Educators Association Council. “The involvement of a variety of groups and individuals of all ages and backgrounds is critical to the development of public policy that transcends partisan politics and provides lasting solutions. We’re hoping for a strong turnout from our membership in The Wisconsin Way meetings because we believe this broad-based coalition has the potential to create historic change and become a model for other states.”
Please join other Wisconsin residents at The Wisconsin Way public forums in the following locations*:
La Crosse – Thursday, Oct. 10
Wausau – Monday, Oct. 15
Appleton – Monday, October 22
Eau Claire – Thursday, Oct. 18
Green Bay – Tuesday, Oct. 30
Superior – Thursday, Nov. 1
Oshkosh – Thursday, Nov. 6
Waukesha – Thursday, Nov. 8
Janesville – Tuesday, Nov. 13
Milwaukee – Tuesday, Nov. 27
Kenosha – Tuesday, Dec. 4
Madison – Monday, Dec. 6
*Dates and locations are subject to change
Please visit the Web site, www.wisconsinway.org to register yourself, colleagues and friends to attend one of The Wisconsin Way forums. You may also register or get more information about this critical issue, by calling them at 1-800-919-3012 or e-mailing them at wisconsinway@wcgpr.com.
posted by Cheryl Hentz at 10:22 PM
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