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CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – The State of Wisconsin, sitting on an $8-billion surplus, is unlikely to give any of it back to taxpayers.
Republicans are partly to blame. They couldn’t agree among themselves on a tax cutting strategy. Republicans in the state senate favored a direct rebate from the state’s accounts: $500 for individual tax-filers and $1,000 for couples. Governor Evers would never agree to that. He has always insisted that tax cuts be shared by the poor who don’t even pay taxes. That’s welfare, not tax policy.
Assembly speaker Robin Vos knew that the governor won’t sign off on rebates. He favored surplus money be used for property tax relief. The specifics would have to be worked out, but Tony Evers has also proposed tax relief. The governor favors the state picking up more school costs to take pressure off school taxes. Vos wants more of the money to go to municipalities.
Republicans will likely send the governor a hybrid tax cut bill: a smaller direct remate and less money for property tax relief. Tony Evers will veto it. The best taxpayers can hope for is a partial veto. Direct rebates will be zeroed out. Property tax assistance may survive, and may even be altered if the governor uses his line item veto to monkey with the numbers.
The situation is surreal. If you are like me and believe that the government should only tax us for what’s necessary… well, Wisconsinites have been over-taxed by billions. Trying to get just some of that money back is next to impossible.
Chris Conley
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