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Tax Issues Publications

Census Bureau Issues New Figures on State and Local Finances – This
2-page report by the Wisconsin Budget Project analyzes recently-released data from the U.S. Census Bureau on state and local government finances in 2006.  The new data show that Wisconsin is slightly below average in per capita state and local spending and is virtually the same as national average in per capita state and local taxes.  The report looks at these and other ways to rank revenue collections and spending relative to other states.

Miscellaneous Options for Increasing State Tax Revenue – As the state considers what to do about a deep budget deficit, we are often asked what the options are for increasing revenue.  This short paper simply lists some hypothetical options, with estimates of the annual revenue that could be gained. (February 21, 2008)

Estate Tax Could Protect Vulnerable Familes from Budget Cuts
(February 20, 2008).

Closing Corporate Tax Loopholes to Fund Programs for Families
(Februrary 20, 2008).

Tax Credits Chart for Low Income Families (English), December, 2007 
Tax Credits Chart for Low Income Families (Spanish), December, 2007
Tax Credits Chart for Low Income Families (Hmong), December, 2007  

“Will the Budget Ease the Property Tax Burden for Low-Income Households?”  -- This short paper analyzes the erosion of the Homestead Tax Credit from inflation, and it summarizes the proposed budget changes that would adjust eligibility for the credit and the size of the credit each year to compensate for future inflation.  (October 10, 2007).

Boom(ers) and Bust: The Aging of Wisconsin's Population and Tax System -- As Wisconsin's population grows older, and as the growing elderly population gains political might, new strains will be laced on the state's already fragile tax/revenue system. This paper examines the emerging situation and considers ways of coping with it (April 23, 2007).

Maximizing Tax Refunds: Putting More Money in Workers' Pockets and Into Local Economies by Decreasing Reliance on Refund Anticipation Loans (December 2006)

Refund Anticipation Loans in Wisconsin: Little Gained and Much Lost for Working Families (February 2, 2005)  

The Homestead Credit: An Effective Form of Property Tax Relief that Is Losing Its Punch (January 28, 2005)

Study Shows Richest 1% in Wisconsin Pay the Least in Taxes (January 8, 2003)

Tax Trends in Wisconsin: Tracking Corporations' Share of State Revenues (June 28, 2001)

“Tax Freedom Day”: Flaws in the Tax Foundation’s Calculations.(April 20, 2001)

The Federal Tax Cut And Low & Middle-Income Working Families: An Opportunity For Meaningful Tax Relief (by the Making Work Continue to Pay Working Group, April 16, 2001)  

Bush Tax Plan Leaves Out One Fifth Of Wisconsin Families--Press Release (March 6, 2001)  

The Use of Earned Income Tax Credits in Wisconsin (December 1, 2000)  

Shifting to "Single Sales Factor" Taxation of Corporations (AB 380) (October 24, 2001)

"The Quiet Indexing Victim": Homestead Property Tax Credit  (June 24, 1999)