Wisconsin Way
WEAC is part of a new coalition focusing public attention on meeting the future needs of Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Way is a grassroots project that pulls together the support and resources of a wide variety of interests to find ways to build a stronger Wisconsin economy that can better support public services, including education. Coalition partners include the Wisconsin Counties Association, the Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association and the Wisconsin Realtors Association.
The key to the state’s economic future is to maintain and constantly strengthen our great schools, said WEAC Executive Director Dan Burkhalter.
“By strengthening the investment in our schools, we can do an even better job of preparing our children for the jobs of the 21st century, which provides our growing businesses with a larger pool of highly qualified employees, leading to even more job growth and economic vitality. It is a cycle of success that feeds off itself,” Burkhalter said.
Public relations executive James B. Wood, whose firm Wood Communications Group is a partner in Wisconsin Way, unveiled the project to participants at the WEAC Summer Academy.
Noting that Wisconsin faces escalating demands for services and infrastructure but a shrinking tax base, he said, “This is not a good equation. … We need to address this issue now.”
Wood said the Wisconsin Way initiative is designed to engage the public in discussions about how Wisconsin can change its tax structure to meet the needs of the 21st century.
Wisconsin residents, he said, support the concept of adequately funding public schools to provide quality education but are feeling financially strapped, making it difficult for them to vote to tax themselves to maintain that goal.
The Wisconsin Way, Wood said, will focus on a strategy of reaching consensus for both lowering property taxes and funding excellence in public education, as well as meeting the state’s other needs.
The program is designed to “energize civic engagement” through a series of town hall-style forums. The ideas generated at these meetings will be analyzed and codified into a plan that will be presented to legislators.
“The Wisconsin Way is grassroots at its best,” Burkhalter said. “It is designed to pull together the experiences, perspectives and knowledge base of citizens as well as a wide variety of experts in various fields.”
In addition to this OnWEAC Web page, more information can be found on the official Wisconsin Way Web site.
Wisconsin Way Q&A
What is The Wisconsin Way?
A non-partisan, grassroots effort to reduce property taxes by creating a more fair and equitable funding system that promotes excellence in education and public service. Area residents with different viewpoints and from all walks of life are being invited to come together for a public conversation on property tax issues and possible solutions to the challenges we all face in protecting and preserving Wisconsin’s unique quality of life.
Who is involved?
The Wisconsin Way is supported by a growing coalition of Wisconsin organizations and individuals. The effort is funded by the Wisconsin Counties Association, the Wisconsin Education Association Council, the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association, Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association and Wood Communications Group.
Wisconsin Way forums
The initial round of Wisconsin Way forums concluded January 31, 2008. At Wisconsin Way forums, citizens were invited to join in a public conversation on property tax issues and possible solutions to the challenges we face. Forums were held in Onalaska, Rothschild, Eau Claire, Appleton, Green Bay, Superior, Oshkosh, Waukesha, Janesville, Glendale, Poynette, Kenosha, Madison, Rhinelander and Platteville.