According to a survey conducted for the Building the New Wisconsin Economy forums, 89% of Wisconsin residents believe the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) has a positive impact the state economy. The WTCS ranked higher than all other institutions included in the survey.

More than three-fourths of residents give the WTCS an "A" or "B" when asked to grade the system's contribution to Wisconsin's economic development efforts– higher than any other institution included in the survey.

Residents also gave the WTCS high marks in a survey conducted for the Wisconsin Technical College District Boards Association. Nearly 86% said their local technical college made a "valuable" or "extremely valuable" contribution to the communities in their region.

Residents also signaled their opposition to a constitutional amendment limiting property taxes. Less than one-third of those questioned supported such an amendment if it would lead to reduced WTCS course offerings, enrollment limitations and less local control.