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Budget and Tax Policy
In thinking about high-road strategies for building healthy communities and regions, COWS pays special attention to how taxpayer dollars are collected and used. In an era of dwindling public resources, it is important that state government be able to harness fair contribution from all parts of society – including corporations and the wealthy – while improving its accountability and efficiency in spending. At COWS, we investigate ways to make tax contributions more equitable across socioeconomic lines and to ensure that public revenue is effectively allocated for pressing public needs.
Our affiliate organization, the Center for State Innovation, works extensively with state elected leaders on creating high-road budget and tax policies.
Previously, COWS sponsored a major conference on state budget and spending priorities in collaboration with the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, entitled Financing Wisconsin's Future: Politics, Economics, and Public Opinion.
Budget and Tax Policy Publications
Here are some examples of our Budget and Tax Policy work:
- Corporate Tax and Subsidy Disclosure: Policy Options for Wisconsin
(PDF)
In 2006, Wisconsin’s corporate tax system came under scrutiny. A summer 2006 Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB) report highlighted the fact that the state has dozens of subsidies for corporations, but does little to track the effect of these subsidies on the state’s business climate. Six months later, the non-profit Institute for Wisconsin’s Future reported that many of Wisconsin’s largest and most well-known corporations pay no taxes. Both reports led to a public demand for more transparency and accountability.
In this report, we respond to this call for accountability and fairness by recommending that Wisconsin adopt stronger corporate tax and subsidy disclosure requirements, including mandating disclosure both of tax information beyond bottom-line tax liability and of state subsidies received. Such measures would provide the public and policymakers with clear and measurable information about the state’s corporate tax climate—information that is critical to crafting tax reforms to ensure a more equitable distribution of the tax burden across individuals and firms.
A fairer tax system is also good for Wisconsin’s business climate: It allows companies that shoulder their full tax burden under existing tax laws to be more competitive with those that take advantage of tax loopholes, and also closes these loopholes, resulting in more dollars flowing to state programs like workforce training, education, infrastructure and other public resources that are highly valued by firms.
6/4/2007 - Efficient and Strategic TIF Use: A Guide for Wisconsin Municipalities
(PDF)
Efficient and Strategic TIF Use: A Guide for Wisconsin Municipalities offers strategies for Wisconsin’s cities and villages to use their TIF funds to expand local economies and leverage for high-quality, sustainable development.
12/5/2006 - The Big Myths about Taxes and Spending in Wisconsin
(PDF)
11/1/2004 - Many Wisconsin Residents Would Support Targeted Tax Hikes to Preserve Key Public Services, New Poll Shows
(PDF)
6/22/2004
Budget and Tax Policy News Coverage
Recent news regarding Budget and Tax Policy
- "Rose White: Taxes aren’t reason businesses stay away,"
LaCrosse Tribune 1/26/2011
- "City poised to shift development support to projects that would generate jobs,"
The Capital Times 10/22/2008
- "Economist Advises Tax Strategy to Fight Recession,"
Wisconsin Public Radio 10/16/2008
- "Wisconsin spends millions to bring new business here. Does it work?,"
The Capital Times 9/4/2008
Building AlliancesCenter for State Innovation
Resources for elected state officials and policy leaders Mayors Innovation Project A forum of ideas for progressive city leaders State Smart Transportation Initiative Promoting smart transportation practices Efficiency Cities Network Committed to scaled retrofits of urban building stock See More COWS notes
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