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Tax Issues

Tax policy is a significant part of WCCF’s efforts to help low and moderate income families in Wisconsin. Taxes affect families directly and also provide most of the funding for vital government services, such as education, health care, transportation, child welfare and other safety net programs.

The Homestead Tax Credit is the primary source of property tax relief for low-income homeowners and renters in Wisconsin, but the maximum credit has not been changed since 1991.

More than 210,000 Wisconsin families receive the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which provided an average credit of $326 in 2003.

Recent News New Census Data on State and Local Spending and Revenue – This two-page paper analyzes new Census Bureau data on state and local spending and taxes in fiscal year 2006-07. The paper illustrates how Wisconsin’s rankings on a wide variety of revenue and spending measures have fallen since 2000, relative to other states. For example, Wisconsin has dropped to 25th in total state and local spending per capita, down from 14th highest in 2000. Total state and local taxes per capita were $65 less per person than the national average (October 9, 2009).
	Taxation of Capital Gains in Wisconsin - Wisconsin is one of nine states that provide a tax break for capital gains.  That tax exclusion has become a hot topic after the state Senate voted on June 17 to eliminate the tax break for such income, in lieu of creating a new oil company tax.  This issue brief provides some basic information relevant to the debate about taxing capital gains (June 22, 2009). Additional Options for Closing Wisconsin’s Budget Shortfall – This short paper explains four options for generating additional revenue in the biennial budget (May 4, 2009).

Project Goals

Achieve an equitable tax system.

Achieve revenue growth that meets the needs of children and families in good economic times and bad.

Ensure that the revenue system funding state and local services evolves with economic change.
 

Project Staff

Jon Peacock: Research Director contact