THU AM News: WMC survey finds support for reducing individual income tax; Revitalize Milwaukee expanding services

— A recent survey from Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce found strong support among business leaders for reducing the state’s individual income tax. 

The group’s latest Wisconsin Employer Survey, conducted online with 164 employers, found 89 percent support “significantly reducing and flattening” Wisconsin’s individual income tax. Of that number, 62 percent said they strongly support this change while 27 percent somewhat support it. 

Just 4 percent oppose the move, with 1 percent strongly opposed and 3 percent somewhat opposed. And 7 percent of respondents said they’re unsure about the issue. 

In its report on the survey results, WMC notes more than 90 percent of businesses in the state are designated as pass-through entities, and therefore pay the individual income tax instead of corporate income tax. 

“This type of policy change would allow companies to invest more in capital projects, higher wages for workers and charitable donations within their communities,” report authors wrote. 

Meanwhile, 66 percent said the top public policy issue facing Wisconsin is the labor shortage, or a lack of qualified applicants. Other top issues included education quality, high taxes, excessive regulation and health care costs, though none garnered more than 7 percent of respondents. 

When asked to choose the one thing the state government could do to improve Wisconsin’s business climate, 34 percent of respondents said reduce taxes. Other top choices were: making health care more affordable, with 17 percent; reduce/reform regulations, 15 percent; and education reform, 14 percent. 

WMC Executive Vice President of Government Relations Scott Manley says “it is a fact” that people are leaving states with higher taxes for those with lower tax burden. 

“In order to attract and retain talented workers, Wisconsin cannot continue to be a high-tax state,” he said in the report. “We now have a tremendous opportunity to significantly lower the tax burden and move the Badger State toward a flat tax.” 

See more survey results: https://media.wmc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/25103851/CEO-Survey-Report_Winter-2023_PUBLIC-POLICY-1.pdf 

See the release: https://www.wmc.org/press-releases/survey-businesses-rate-tax-reform-as-top-public-policy-objective/ 

— Revitalize Milwaukee has announced plans to expand the services it offers with more than $12 million in new funding. 

This nonprofit group provides free home repairs in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties with a goal of reducing social, economic and environmental disparities. The organization says it’s the largest provider of home repairs in southeastern Wisconsin, and the only one that provides them for free. It also offers accessibility modifications, serving homeowners such as low-income seniors, veterans and people with disabilities. 

In a release yesterday, the group said it’s now adding a lead abatement program, an initiative to make homes safer for residents with asthma and an energy efficiency service program. 

These new services are supported with funding from Milwaukee’s health department’s American Rescue Plan Act allocation, the state Public Service Commission, the state Department of Health Services, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Kohl’s Corporation’s Hometown Giving Program. 

“This is a call to contractors, vendors, partners and funders to work with Revitalize Milwaukee to greatly elevate our services to improve the quality of life for so many homeowners in the community,” Revitalize Milwaukee CEO Lynnea Katz-Petted said in a statement. “Together, we can rebuild entire neighborhoods.”  

Along with expanded services, the new funding is also supporting the addition of 3,000 square feet of space to the group’s headquarters in downtown Milwaukee, the release shows. 

Over the past 22 years, the nonprofit says it’s invested more than $24 million into housing in the area and repaired more than 3,260 homes. 

See the release: https://www.wisbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Revitalize-Milwaukee_Mandatory-Community-Resource_January-2023.pdf 

See more: https://www.freehomerepairs.org/our-mission 

— The co-chairs of the Joint Finance Committee are urging a measured approach to the upcoming budget after the Legislative Fiscal Bureau projected the state will finish the current fiscal year with a $7.1 billion surplus.

That is $524 million more than what the Evers administration expected just two months ago, and the projection comes a day after Gov. Tony Evers used his State of the State to unveil nearly $1.3 billion in new proposals over the biennium with another $500 million boost to shared revenue annually.

Co-chair Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, noted the surplus was significantly impacted by one-time money from the federal governments. He vowed to fund core priorities and protect “Wisconsin’s checkbook.”

Co-chair Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam, noted the LFB memo pointed to some fiscal uncertainties that lie ahead.

“It is more important than ever to make sure we continue smart budgeting to ensure we can fund our priorities now and in the future,” Born said.

The revised surplus is more than a third of what the state is budgeted to spend through the general fund in the 2022-23 fiscal year

Meanwhile, LFB cited three factors driving the surplus above the nearly $6.6 billion that the Evers administration projected in November. The biggest is the state’s Medicaid fund will have a higher surplus thanks to the federal government continuing enhanced matching rates. That will result in $269.9 million more being lapsed into the general fund at the end of this fiscal year than had been expected.

See more at WisPolitics.com: https://www.wispolitics.com/2023/wed-pm-update-jfc-co-chairs-urge-measured-approach-as-lfb-projects-7-1-billion-surplus 

— The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association has received more than 2,000 product submissions for the upcoming United States Championship Cheese Contest. 

WCMA is hosting this event next month in Green Bay, where expert judges will evaluate products submitted by 197 dairy producers in 35 states. The winner of the contest will be named U.S. Champion. 

“This impressive number of entries shows how meaningful this competition is to the nation’s dairy craftsmen and women,” Contest Manager Kirsten Strohmenger said in a release. 

See more on the contest: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/wisconsin-cheese-makers-association-u-s-championship-cheese-contest-features-2249-entries/ 

<br><b><i>Top headlines from the Health Care Report … </b></i> 

— Gov. Tony Evers called for $500 million in new spending on mental health initiatives in his State of the State address. 

And a Milwaukee biotech company called GenoPalate has launched a line of health supplements tailored to match customers’ genetic profile. 

<i>For more of the most relevant news on COVID-19, reports on groundbreaking health research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics.com and WisBusiness.com.</i> 

Sign up here: http://forms.gle/o8FtqTLviGJPja8C9 

See more coverage of Evers’ speech at WisPolitics.com: https://www.wispolitics.com/2023/evers-calls-for-nearly-1-3-billion-in-new-spending-shared-revenue-boost 

#TOP STORIES#

# Evers promises a tax cut, compromise to increase funding

https://apnews.com/article/politics-us-republican-party-tony-evers-wisconsin-fe3f385337006af081f9f31bb22d0ddc

# Most Wisconsin businesses think a recession is coming, but it’s still too soon to tell

https://www.wpr.org/most-wisconsin-businesses-think-recession-coming-its-still-too-soon-tell

# New DNR Secretary calls on lawmakers to ‘step up’ in protecting waters

https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2023/01/25/new-dnr-secretary-calls-on-lawmakers-to-step-up-in-protecting-waters/69815276007/

#TOPICS#

# AGRIBUSINESS 

– Kinnard elected DBA president

http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=97&yr=2023

– State maple syrup producers convention held

http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=98&yr=2023

# CONSTRUCTION 

– MATC event connects underused businesses with project work

# ECONOMY 

– Evers pledges $190 million for state workforce momentum

# ENVIRONMENT 

– New DNR board secretary promises water quality top priority

https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-us-republican-party-protests-and-demonstrations-tony-evers-madison-2331e845f559e416f8bcaaac143d64be

– There’s a change in store for sturgeon spearing season this year. Here are the details.

https://www.postcrescent.com/story/news/local/2023/01/25/sturgeon-spearing-on-winnebago-system-has-a-change-in-store-for-2023/69807513007/

# FOOD AND BEVERAGE

– See which Milwaukee restaurateurs, chefs are up for James Beard awards

https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2023/01/25/see-milwaukee-restaurateurs-chefs-james-beard.html

– People’s Park to open downtown Milwaukee location

# HEALTH CARE 

– Call volume has skyrocketed since Wisconsin launched simplified 988 crisis hotline

https://www.wpr.org/call-volume-has-skyrocketed-wisconsin-launched-simplified-988-crisis-hotline

# INVESTING 

– HPS|PayMedix raises another $25 million in funding to fuel growth

# LABOR 

– CNH Industrial strike ends after workers approve new contract

http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=96&yr=2023

# MANUFACTURING 

– Mattress giant that’s consolidating Wisconsin plants files for bankruptcy

https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2023/01/25/serta-simmons-files-for-bankruptcy.html

# POLITICS 

– Explainer: Where Wisconsin governor and Republicans agree

https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-health-us-republican-party-tony-evers-ff591b7bf20efc3221d0a5dd7f8f1734

– Wisconsin’s projected budget surplus hits $7.1B

https://www.wpr.org/wisconsins-projected-budget-surplus-hits-7-1b

# REAL ESTATE 

– Brookfield official says low-income people should live outside the city

https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/west/2023/01/25/brookfield-official-says-low-income-people-need-to-earn-living-in-city/69838332007/

– Despite protest song, city advances apartments at former Market Square Theater

https://captimes.com/news/community/despite-protest-song-city-advances-apartments-at-former-market-square-theater/article_8e60820a-6a76-535d-8d74-df08b5f8fa36.html

– Out-of-state developer pitches hundreds of apartments for subdivision-like community in Bristol

https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2023/01/25/developer-pitches-531-apartments-bristol.html

– City asks judge for title to Northridge Mall

# RETAIL 

– Foot Locker will close its Oshkosh call center, affecting almost 100 people

https://www.wpr.org/foot-locker-will-close-its-oshkosh-call-center-affecting-almost-100-people

– Kohl’s Corp. eliminates 60 positions at Menomonee Falls headquarters

https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/2023/01/25/kohls-corp-eliminates-60-positions-at-menomonee-falls-headquarters/69841847007/

# SPORTS 

– Milwaukee Marathon halves its 2023 route, plans March race

https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2023/01/25/milwaukee-marathon-halves-its-2023-route-plans-march-race/69838264007/

# TOURISM 

– ‘Around Wisco’ photo book focuses on people, places of Ice Age Trail

https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/2023/01/25/around-wisco-photo-book-focuses-on-people-places-of-ice-age-trail/69822715007/

# TRANSPORTATION 

– Hardly any Madison taxi rides for those with disabilities

https://captimes.com/news/government/hardly-any-madison-taxi-rides-for-those-with-disabilities/article_73527cd5-3d51-57a1-a73b-cc975ac9feea.html

# PRESS RELEASES

<i>See these and other press releases: 

https://www.wisbusiness.com/press-releases/ </i>

WMC: SURVEY: Businesses rate tax reform as top public policy objective

UW-Stout: Graduate students receive scholarships to ‘build the capacity of state’s mental health workforce’