Posted on 04/17/2012 1:11:02 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Milwaukee, Wisc. - According to Wisconsin's Department of Revenue, property taxes on homes in the state of Wisconsin have decreased for the first time in more than a decade.
Governor Scott Walker's pledge to balance the budget without raising taxes was a key plank of his 2010 campaign, and his fulfillment of that pledge will be a major campaign theme leading up to the June 5 recall election. “Our reforms have reversed a decade of property tax increases from previous administrations,” Walker said in a statement on Monday. “For the first time in over ten years, the average property taxpayer will have more money in his or her pocket than the year before.” Walker's office noted that property taxes had risen by 43 percent since 1998, and "the average homeowner would have paid an additional $700 over the biennium" without the 2011 budget reforms.
The property tax decrease is largely attributable to a reduction in state spending on local school districts, according to Todd Berry of the non-partisan Wisconsin Taxpayers' Alliance.
"On average, property taxes went down one percent for schools," Berry tells THE WEEKLY STANDARD. "That basically held everything close to flat." Although Milwaukee, Madison, and some other districts will see property taxes increase this year, property tax cuts throughout the rest of the state--cuts made possible by Walker's reforms--will offset the increases. (Berry notes that although the median home property tax declined 0.4%, all property taxes increased 0.2%. But 0.2% is still well below the rate of inflation.)
In order to close the state's $3.6 billion deficit, Walker reduced state aid to school districts--the biggest part of the state budget--by about $900 million. Walker also limited collective bargaining so that local school districts could absorb the cuts by requiring teachers to contribute more for their benefits. The two leading Democrats vying to replace Walker have refused to say how they would have balanced Wisconsin's budget.
At a press conference today, Milwaukee mayor Tom Barrett, the frontrunner in the Democrats' gubernatorial primary, was asked about the property tax news. He didn't dispute the report that property taxes had decreased statewide. But, Barrett told reporters, "I can tell you here in the City of Milwaukee, our school taxes went up. And they went up primarily because of the funding of the school choice program.”
Barrett did not mention, however, that Milwaukee schools are currently operating under a collective bargaining agreement that was locked in prior to Walker's reforms. Collective bargaining effectively gives the Milwaukee teachers' union the power to choose layoffs and higher taxes over cuts to their benefits.
On April 4, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported that after "robust discussions and three days of voting, members of the Milwaukee teachers union have rejected by nearly a 3-to-2 margin a proposal to contribute about 2.6% of their salary to Milwaukee Public Schools next year to help reduce burgeoning class sizes."
Of course not, that would show intellectual integrity.
The unions are the ‘1%’. The benefits are insane. The fight in Wisconsin is so clear cut. The fact it’s a fight at all speaks volumes about our society. The man’s doing everything right for the majority of the voters.
[Scott] Walker aide under fire for 'unnatural sexiness'
Talk about a "war on women!"
And why the unions are pouring millions and millions into Wisconsin.
Facts are stubborn things. There is NO WAY these benefits/pensions can be sustained. All Wisconsinites (and the rest of the country) have to do is look at Illinois and their unsustainable public employee costs and increase in taxes.
The Illinois Chamber of Commerce wants to learn more.
April 17, 2012: Protest expected as Walker speaks to Illinois Chamber Tuesday "SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker travels to the capital of Illinois Tuesday, April 17th – a place he’s used as a political punching bag for the last year. Walker was invited by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce to explain his approach to balancing Wisconsin’s state budget, but some are not ready to roll out the welcome mat. Union workers are planning a big protest that may involve as many as 2,000 people.
Walker is headed into the “lion’s den” Tuesday – Springfield, Illinois – the emblem of all he says is wrong with government. Walker has made no secret about his plans to lure Illinois businesses across the border into Wisconsin, and Tuesday, he plans to bring that message to the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.
Why would the Illinois Chamber of Commerce invite Walker to speak? “This year it was very obvious that Scott Walker was the right person to bring because of the fact that Wisconsin and Illinois have both suffered serious budget deficits. Wisconsin’s solution was to end with a balanced budget and not raise taxes,” Doug Whitley with the Illinois Chamber of Commerce said."....................
WI voters would be insane to dump Gov Walker..... but Americans are known for doing insane things... like electing Barack Obama.
Walker’s fault, vote him out.
Hey wait a second, this is a GOOD thing. My union weasel neighbor (in Chicago) with a recall Walker sign will be crushed and crushed even more when he gets his exorbitant property tax bill from Crook County IL.
If I remember reading the article correctly, the Milwaukee teachers had a choice of giving up some of their benefits that would allow a bunch of teachers who were going to lose their jobs keep them or keeping their exorbitant bennies and letting the young teachers lose their jobs. They chose to let the young teachers lose their jobs instead of contributing a little more of their bennies. Nice people, eh?
To: D Rider
If I remember reading the article correctly, the Milwaukee teachers had a choice of giving up some of their benefits that would allow a bunch of teachers who were going to lose their jobs keep them or keeping their exorbitant bennies and letting the young teachers lose their jobs. They chose to let the young teachers lose their jobs instead of contributing a little more of their bennies. Nice people, eh?.....
No surprise there!
Oh i understand the unions have to be all in on this. The point of my statement was that the polling should be 70-30 Walkers favor for the recall but it’s not. Because people are truly stupid. Plenty of people out there will vote against him even if his policies benefit them simply because he’s not a liberal.
Thanks Cincinatus’ Wife.
Wisconsin Property Tax redution ping
FReep mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
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