Taxes & Spending

The latest from the Wisconsin Budget Project:

• Wisconsin went from 15th highest in 2000 to 27th in 2008 in state and local general revenue per capita, and from 13th to 23rd in total spending per capita.
• Total government spending at the state and local level in Wisconsin was $570 (6.1%) per person below the national average in 2007-08.
• In direct general spending, Wisconsin was $345 (4.4%) below the national average in per capita spending.
• Total state and local taxes were $40 per person less in Wisconsin in FY 2008 than the national average, and Wisconsin ranked 17th in that category (compared to 8th in 2000).
• On a per capita basis, Wisconsin ranks 46th in federal revenue, 17 percent below average.
• The number of state and local employees per 1,000 state residents was 8.2% below average, ranking 41st nationally.
• State and local spending for public employee payrolls was 9 percent below the national average and ranked 33rd.
• State and local spending in Wisconsin in fiscal year 2008 was 4.4 percent below the national average when it is measured on a per capita basis.