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 Forum moderator James B. Wood explains the goals of Wisconsin Way. |
By Lori Blakeslee
Approximately 150 participants attended the Wisconsin Way community forum at Meyer Theatre in Green Bay Tuesday (October 30, 2007). The overall theme of the evening was that government is spending too much and government needs to use its resources more wisely.
James B. Wood of the Wood Communications Group opened the event by acknowledging the coalition partners of the Wisconsin Way, which includes WEAC, the Wisconsin Counties Association, the Wisconsin Realtors Association, the Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association, and Wood Communications Group. Wood also played a short video to demonstrate the challenges Wisconsin residents will face in the future as demand for services rise and the tax base continues to shrink.
Participants' comments ranged from paying taxes is our responsibility as citizens, to Wisconsin needs more progressive taxes, to it is time for government to live within its means and to consolidate more services.
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One participant suggested that Wisconsin Way’s role was to find out three things from state residents: what services they want, whom they want to provide the services, and how government should raise the revenue to pay for them.
Several current and past local government officials spoke about what they described as the out-of-control spending in Madison. They criticized the mandates that state government imposes on local government without providing the money to pay for them.
Former WEAC Vice President Terry Meyer talked about how he sees himself as a contributing citizen and member of his community. “I pay my taxes because I know I am helping someone and someday I’m going to need help and someone will be helping me.”
A Manitowoc County resident talked about owning a smaller home and not worrying about property taxes. For her it came down to what choices people are making.
Several Door County residents spoke to the unfairness of property taxes in their area of the state. They discussed how out-of-state residents with large vacation homes have increased their property value to the point that the average worker can no longer afford to own a home.
Throughout the two-hour forum, participants talked about holding state legislators accountable. They raised concerns about legislators placing a greater priority on getting re-elected than really solving the issues before the state. Many spoke about the recent state budget fiasco.
Few ideas were offered to solve the property tax issue. However, one gentleman stood up holding a large packet of papers that he said listed the names of people in Wisconsin who owe $25,000 or more in back taxes and are not paying. He suggested that the state needs to pursue these individuals to recoup what government is lawfully entitled to rather than raise the taxes of other citizens.
The evening ended with comments from Chamber of Commerce President Paul Jadin. Jadin stressed the need for more regional tax base sharing, reducing the hold that arbitration has on public government, and a need for a constitutional convention. He blamed state residents for enabling legislators to maintain the status quo because they hold elected officials to campaign slogans of “no tax increases.”
Wood said the ideas generated at Wisconsin Way forums will be analyzed and codified into a plan that will be presented to legislators.
For more information, visit the OnWEAC Wisconsin Way page.
Posted November 1, 2007
