MADISON — WMC Foundation released the first episode of its new limited video series based on the foundation’s Wisconsin Competitiveness Report— highlighting the challenges facing Wisconsin’s economy and what it will take to move forward. In the debut episode, WMC President/CEO Kurt Bauer sits down with WMC Foundation President Wade Goodsell to break down key issues—including workforce, taxes, education, and healthcare—and examine topline metrics showing where Wisconsin is falling behind.
“At a high level…are we going to be a state that’s red tape for business or a state that’s red carpet for business? Unfortunately, when you look at our tax landscape, the demographic trends, the K–12 achievement gaps, and the extraordinarily high cost of health care, we’re becoming a state that’s far more red tape than red carpet.” — Wade Goodsell
Taxes
Wisconsin remains among the highest-taxed states in the nation, ranking:
- 12th in corporate income taxes
- 8th in property taxes
- 9th in personal income taxes
“You pencil it out with the Governor’s 400-year autopilot property tax increase—over the next 20 years, property taxes are going to double in the state. You don’t need a 24-page report to say that’s not going to help affordability. So, recommendation number one—stop the digging. Do no harm.” — Wade Goodsell
Education
Wisconsin students continue to fall behind. According to recent data:
- Seven in ten students are not reading at grade level
- Two-thirds of students are below grade level in math
- Per-pupil spending has more than doubled since 2000
- Enrollment has fallen by 65,000 over that same period, while non-teaching staff increased by more than 8,000
“If you can’t read, you can’t learn. We need to ensure that the pipeline of workers we have are ready for whatever is next—whether it’s a job, college, technical college, the military, or an apprenticeship.” — Kurt Bauer
Regulations
Wisconsin’s regulatory environment is among the most aggressive in the nation:
- The state ranks 13th most regulated nationally
- The administrative code includes more than 165,000 regulatory restrictions
“When we’re the 13th most regulated state in the nation with over 165,000 regulations, are we a state that pulls you in, or a state that pushes you away?” — Wade Goodsell
Health Care
Health care costs in Wisconsin are among the highest in the nation, placing growing pressure on employers, workers, and families. The state has:
- The second-highest overall health care costs
- The fourth-highest hospital costs
- The highest workers’ compensation medical costs
“Where else in your business do you have year-over-year, double-digit cost increases without any type of transparency and virtually no accountability? Health care costs have become another hindrance to the cost of doing business.” — Wade Goodsell
