More than half of Wisconsin business owners believe the state is headed in the wrong direction, driven largely by concerns over rising property taxes that are hurting their ability to compete. Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce released its latest Employer Survey on Tuesday showing that business leaders across the state are increasingly worried about tax burdens that make it harder to grow and attract investment.
The survey of nearly 200 businesses found that 56% of respondents said Wisconsin is headed in the wrong direction. When asked specifically about taxes, 51% said Wisconsin's state and local taxes weaken their competitiveness compared to businesses in other states, while only 6% said taxes improve it. The concern extends beyond property taxes: a majority of employers—71%—support eliminating Wisconsin's personal income tax entirely, with 46% saying they "strongly support" the idea. Just 14% of respondents opposed eliminating the state's income tax.
According to WMC's Kurt Bauer, Wisconsin is already "among the highest-taxed states in the nation, with top-10 individual and property tax burdens and a top-12 corporate tax burden." Bauer described property taxes as "a punishing fixed cost, owed whether a business is just starting out, expanding, or struggling." The survey report warns that with current policies, "Wisconsin is on track to climb even higher" in tax rankings.
The findings reflect growing frustration among business owners who say high taxes are a structural disadvantage in competing with neighboring states. Bauer framed the issue as a choice between making Wisconsin attractive to investment or continuing policies that drive businesses elsewhere. "Some states roll out the red carpet for businesses; others roll out the red tape," he said, arguing that Wisconsin must "reform our tax climate to make it more competitive with neighboring states and those across the country."
The survey makes clear that for Wisconsin's business community, tax reform isn't just a policy preference—it's seen as essential to the state's economic future. With more than half of employers saying taxes weaken their competitiveness and nearly three-quarters supporting income tax elimination, the message from business leaders is direct: Wisconsin's tax burden is holding the state back.