Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and DOR Sec. Rick Chandler at a tax round table event.
A new report outlines a wide range of concerns about Wisconsin’s tax system, although it offers no specific suggestions on how to address those issues.
The report from Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch and State Revenue Secretary Rick Chandler is the result of 23 roundtable hearings held around the state over the past year, along with comments submitted online. It says residents and members of the business community expressed concerns during those meetings about the high property and income taxes, along with a desire for a simpler tax code.
However, it concludes without offering any specific paths to address those issues, only saying there’s a need to continue the tax conversation and to “propose budgets that will lower property taxes in Wisconsin, allow more discretionary income for our citizens, and create a tax climate that will not only encourage existing businesses to move to our state, but will also provide the setting necessary for new start-ups to grow and succeed in Wisconsin.”
In a statement, Kleefisch said that she and Chandler “went as observers, not advocates, looking for the best ideas and honest input of Wisconsin’s taxpayers.” While Chandler said “We received a lot of very thoughtful input about tax reform from citizens all across Wisconsin. People clearly appreciate the tax relief they’ve seen in the last four years and want to see continued tax reduction and tax reform.”
Chandler and Kleefisch embarked on the statewide tour at the request of Governor Scott Walker.