Focus Newsletter

Focus Newsletter Apres la guerre: Considering recall elections

April 23, 2012  •  Vol. 2012 No. 5

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The number of recall elections in Wisconsin is unprecedented. When the dust settles, a time may come when the state can reexamine the recall process and consider reform or alternatives. History shows that recall is a relatively new... Read More

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   Focus Newsletter - March 29, 2012  •  Vol. 2012 No. 4Composting the state income tax

   Evolution of the state income tax over the years brings to mind composting. Law change is piled on top of law change with little regard for the cumulative effect. Unintended consequences include substantial overwithholding from... Read More
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   Focus Newsletter - March 13, 2012  •  Vol. 2012 No. 3Digging into the mining debate

   The recent debate over iron ore mining in northern Wisconsin shed light on the state’s current political climate. Policy differences over taxes, environmental protection, and mine permitting played a key role in the failure of... Read More
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   Focus Newsletter - February 17, 2012  •  Vol. 2012 No. 2Lessons from the latest state budget surprise

   The governor and the legislative opposition offered contrasting views of the state of the state several weeks ago. Another assessment comes from legislative analysts whose revised revenue estimates suggest Wisconsin could run a deficit... Read More
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   Focus Newsletter - January 9, 2012  •  Vol. 2012 No. 1First look at 2012 property tax totals

   Enough information about 2012 property tax bills around the state is in to estimate that levies statewide are up about 0.3%, the smallest increase since a cut in 1996-97. Of course, local changes will vary from state averages. School... Read More
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   Focus Newsletter - December 30, 2011  •  Vol. 2011 No. 27Fiscal year in review: Glass half empty, or . . . ?

   Every December, the state releases its financial statements for the prior fiscal year in its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, or CAFR*. The new 2010-11 edition covers July 2010 through June 2011. At the end of that period, state... Read More
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   Focus Newsletter - December 28, 2011  •  Vol. 2011 No. 26State budgets in 2012: How do we stack up?

   Wisconsin enacted its state budget for fiscal year 2012 last summer. But a recent national report offers the first opportunity to compare our general fund budget with those of other states. Although we slowed our annual spending growth... Read More
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   Focus Newsletter - December 5, 2011  •  Vol. 2011 No. 25School taxes fall­ for first time since 2006

   School property taxes in Wisconsin are dropping 1.0% to $4.65 billion for 2011-12. This compares with annual increases that averaged 5.5% during the prior five years. Overall, 269 districts froze or cut their tax levies this year,... Read More
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   Focus Newsletter - November 30, 2011  •  Vol. 2 No. 24New census figures, II: Spending up in recession

   A new U.S. Census release reveals for the first time how state-local finances were impacted by the recession in 2009. In Wisconsin, tax revenues dropped from 11.7% to 11.2% of state income. Ironically, state-local expenditures rose $2.6... Read More
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   Focus Newsletter - November 30, 2011  •  Vol. 2011 No. 23New census figures I: Tax burden down, rank up

   Newly released census figures show Wisconsin’s 2009 state-local tax collections claimed 11.2% of personal income, down from 11.7% the prior year. Despite the decline, the state’s “tax rank” rose from 11th to... Read More
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    Focus Newsletter - November 22, 2011  •  Vol. 2011 No. 22Municipal spending down, debt up

    For the first time in at least a decade, municipal operating spending in the state’s 238 most populous cities and villages (excluding Milwaukee and Madison) declined in 2009. However, municipal debt rose faster than in any year... Read More
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    Focus Newsletter - October 30, 2011  •  Vol. 2011 No. 21When a tax freeze is not a freeze

    Cold weather will soon bring December property tax bills. While property taxes always lead to some taxpayer confusion, this summer’s “Madison talk” of a tax “freeze” has some taxpayers expecting that bills... Read More
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    Focus Newsletter - October 30, 2011State Tax and Fee Ranks

    Soon to be released. Read More
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    Focus Newsletter - October 28, 2011  •  Vol. 2011 No. 20Who files, pays the federal income tax?

    Debate over who pays—or does not pay—the federal income tax is as old as the tax. Historical figures from the IRS show that the top 5% of filers reported 28.4% of all income in 1986 and 36.5% in 2008. They paid 42.4% of the... Read More
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    Focus Newsletter - October 7, 2011  •  Vol. 2011 No. 19School update (II): Wisconsin vs. U.S.

    Operating expenditures in Wisconsin public schools averaged $11,078 per student in 2009, or 5.5% more than the national average and 16th highest of the 50 states. Among areas school districts spent more were instruction, staff support,... Read More
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    Focus Newsletter - September 30, 2011  •  Vol. 2011 No. 18School update (I): Recent Wisconsin trends

    With state budgets and school funding volatile in recent years, trends in school enrollment, staffing, and finances merit attention. Student and staff counts are both falling, but open enrollment is rising and students are more diverse... Read More
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    Focus Newsletter - September 17, 2011  •  Vol. 2011 No. 17A better way to choose supreme court justices?

    Americans have fought over selection of supreme court justices since the 1700s, largely because they have conflicting views over whether judges should be independent or accountable to the people. States use at least four methods of... Read More
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    Focus Newsletter - August 30, 2011  •  Vol. 2011 No. 16Hindsight and the summer of our discontent

    Wisconsin’s recent recall elections, together with money spent and ads run, were unprecedented. However, hindsight shows that 7 of 9 incumbents survived, as saturation advertising turned sleepy summer contests into high-turnout,... Read More
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    Focus Newsletter - August 18, 2011  •  Vol. 2011 No. 15Property value decline continues

    The total market value of taxable property in Wisconsin fell 1.8% to $486.9 billion in 2011. Both residential and commercial markets remained weak, but manufacturing values held steady. Net new construction percentages used in... Read More
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    Focus Newsletter - August 10, 2011  •  Vol. 2011 No. 14Still more surprising uses of the state budget

    Wisconsin state budgets do far more than tax and spend; they serve political purposes, as well—at least for the majority party. Individual law-makers add to the budget “earmarked” projects for their districts. State... Read More
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    Focus Newsletter - July 29, 2011  •  Vol. 2011 No. 13The surprising uses of a state budget

    An omnibus bill, the Wisconsin state budget is about much more than taxes and spending. It is often used to make major state policy changes, alter state rules and processes, and mandate local government practices. Because the budget is... Read More
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    Focus Newsletter - July 21, 2011  •  Vol. 2011 No. 122011-13 budget recap (II): Tax and fee changes

    Compared to dramatic spending changes, the tax-and-fee changes in the 2011-13 budget are small. General fund revenues for the next two years are reduced by $140.8 million (net), or about 0.5% of appropriations. When all funds are... Read More
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    Focus Newsletter - July 19, 2011  •  Vol. 2011 No. 112011-13 budget recap (I): Budget basics

    The 2011-13 state budget is now law. General fund spending totals $29.03 billion (b), or 7.6% more than the esti- mated total ($26.99b) for 2009-11. Adding federal aid and various user charges yields an “all-funds” budget of... Read More
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    Focus Newsletter - June 30, 2011  •  Vol. 2011 No. 10Celebrating the 4th: Washington on civility

    In recent years, outside observers of Wisconsin politics and government have lamented the changing tone in public debate. Over 260 years ago, young George Washington penned some rules for “civility and decent behavior.”... Read More
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    Focus Newsletter - June 21, 2011  •  Vol. 2011 No. 92011-13 state budget: Playing the cards dealt

    The state’s 2011-13 budget is in the homestretch. One could argue that the budget debate was over before it began. IOUs carried over from the prior budget plus an insatiable Medicaid program meant that all new tax revenues... Read More

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