Sales Tax

16 states have a lower sales tax than Wisconsin; 30 states are higher. If we can establish an additional .1% tax for Miller Park, can't we do the same for parks, transit, and other infrastructure? In the 15 years the stadium tax has been around it has raised $338,843,508 --over $22.5 million per year. For each additional .1% on our sales tax we could raise over $20 million per year for various infrastructure and other projects throughout our state.

US State Sales Tax Rates - 2010
State	State sales tax rate (January 1st, 2010)%
Alabama	4.0
Alaska	nil
Arizona	5.6
Arkansas	6.0
California	8.25
Colorado	2.9
Connecticut	6.0
Delaware	nil
Florida	6.0
Georgia	4.0
Hawaii	4.0
Idaho	6.0
Illinois	6.25
Indiana	7.0
Iowa	6.0
Kansas	5.3
Kentucky	6.0
Louisiana	4.0
Maine	5.0
Maryland	6.0
Massachusetts	6.25
Michigan	6.0
Minnesota	6.875
Mississippi	7.0
Missouri	4.225
Montana	nil
Nebraska	5.5
Nevada	6.85
New Hampshire	nil
New Jersey	7.0
New Mexico	5.0
New York	4.0
North Carolina	5.75
North Dakota	5.0
Ohio	5.5
Oklahoma	4.5
Oregon	nil
Pennsylvania	6.0
Rhode Island	7.0
South Carolina	6.0
South Dakota	4.0
Tennessee	7.0
Texas	6.25
Utah	4.7
Vermont	6.0
Virginia	5.0
West Virginia	6.0
Wisconsin	5.0
Washington	6.5
Washington DC	6.0
Wyoming	4.0

Yes, sales taxes are generally considered regressive, but being that our options, politically, these days are limited, and, economically speaking, we have more wiggle-room than other states in raising our sales tax without it being a competitive disadvantage, it may be a simple way to generate some revenue which could ultimately improve our quality of life.

I'd prefer raising taxes on the rich and scrapping corporate loopholes and welfare, but that seems presently unattainable; especially with Republicans back in charge in Wisconsin.

For Further Reading:

Quarterly Summary State & Local Revenue

State Government Tax Collections 2009

State Tax Collections

State Tax Rankings

Tax Dollars, State By State

The Tax Tale: 50 State Comparison

Wisconsin 2009 Tax Collections