Wisconsin has been a high tax state for years, stretching well back from the Doyle administration through Tommy Thompson’s many years in office (Gov. McCallum having served only briefly in between).
The Wisconsin State Journal recently noted positively a study contending that Wisconsin was out of the rankings of the ten highest taxed states for the first time in years. In fact, one of the few times times out of the top ten highest-taxed states since 1969.
(As the Journal correctly notes, even this belated and dubious accomplishment — we are still highly taxed, and ranked that way — is disputed. Another study still places us within the top ten on the list.)
The next time that someone mentions to me how much Tommy Thompson did for the state, I will remind him or her (as I always do) that he did too little to reduce our tax burden and size of state government. Far too little.
This high tax burden statewide presents an opportunity for Whitewater. If we significantly reduce our local tax burden through a significant reduction in the size of local government, we can offer an comparative advantage for new residents and businesses.
(I am convinced it would be a comparative advantage, not merely in tax burden, but it quality of life even apart from taxation. When I post on the ongoing budget process in the months ahead, I will present the case for a much smaller municipal budget. A reduction in government’s size doesn’t just save money — it reduces the scope of meddling and intrusion into private life.)