Wisconsin's Business Climate Statistics - 2007

Did you know?
		Business taxes are lower in Wisconsin that those in 35 other states, according to a 2005 study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, which measures more than 15 taxes that can affect corporate profits.
		The magazine FierceBiotec ranks Wisconsin as one of the top five regions in the world targeting biotech companies.
		According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Wisconsin has fallen to 15th in the total state tax burden per $1,000 of personal income, down from 12th when Governor Doyle took office in 2003 and 6th in 2000.
		For each of the last three years Wisconsin increased business start-ups, registering more than 37,000 in 2005.
		A recent Milken Institute study found Wisconsin’s cost of doing business is 4.6 percent lower than the national average, 30th lowest in nation.
		Governor Doyle's economic record includes creating more than 179,000 jobs since January 2003, an increase of nearly 75,000 high-paying professional service jobs, and thousands of manufacturing jobs.  According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, other heavy manufacturing states have lost manufacturing jobs between January 2003 and June 2006:
			United States lost more than 388,000 manufacturing jobs
			Illinois lost 44,000 manufacturing jobs
			Michigan lost 67,000 manufacturing jobs
			Indiana lost 1,200 manufacturing jobs
			Ohio lost 50,000 manufacturing jobs
		Wisconsin ranks second nationally – trailing only Indiana – in percentage of total jobs that are manufacturing, with 18 percent.
		From 2000 to 2004 13,603 more people moved into Wisconsin than left the state, making it the only state in the upper Midwest to show a small gain in population from domestic migration. In comparison, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Illinois had a net loss of more than 287,000 people and Michigan saw a net loss of nearly 114,000.
		In its most recent annual report of equalized property values, which takes into account property sales and new construction, the state Department of Revenue said the increase for all types of property in 2005 was 9.59% -- the highest since 1980.
		The growth in the value of all commercial property was slightly higher -- 10.19% -- than the average jump in the values of homes statewide.  In 2004, commercial property increased 8.8%.
		For 2006, manufacturing property values increased by 2.08%.
		Property tax rates declined significantly, from $19.64 in 2004-05 to $18.36 per $1,000 in property value in 2005-06.
		In the publication , Wisconsin ranks among the highest in a number of Quality of Life factors including:
			Lowest Crime Rates – Top Ten
			Fond du Lac (2), Wausau (4), La Crosse (5), Appleton (7), Oshkosh-Neenah (8) and Sheboygan (10)
			Best Public Schools – Top Ten
			Sheboygan (5), Eau Claire (7), Madison (8)
			Best Continuing Education Opportunities – Top Ten
			Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL-Indiana-Wisconsin (2)
			5-Star Quality of Life Metros
			(Based on scores in nine major categories including: affordable housing, good public schools, peace of mind, a balanced standard of living, broad opportunities for adult education, reasonable traffic and commuting, good commercial air access, a high adult education level and, from an employer’s perspective, a young, reasonably-priced work force from which to find good employees.) Appleton, Duluth, MN-WI, Eau Claire, Green Bay, La Crosse, Madison, Sheboygan, Wausau
		UW-Madison ranks among the top three in the nation’s public universities in Research & Development (R&D) spending.
		In 2006, Wisconsin high school seniors topped the nation in ACT scores for the 12th straight year.
		Wisconsin exports increased by 15.1% to a record $17.2 billion in 2006, as compared to a 14.7% national increase. Since Governor Doyle took office in 2003, Wisconsin exports have increased by approximately 60 percent.
		Technology exports from Wisconsin jumped by 34% in 2005, for a total of $3.5 billion. Tech products account for 23% of total exports from Wisconsin.
		Wisconsin was one of only six states to make the Corporation for Enterprise Development Honor Roll, scoring:
			A for economic performance
			B for business vitality
			B for developmental capacity
		In the “Top Cities for Doing Business in America” list for 2005, Wisconsin has two cities in the Top 15. No other Midwest state has any:
			Green Bay, #1 (medium)
			Madison, #2 (medium)
			La Crosse, #17 (small)
		E 2005 study, “Hot Cities for Entrepreneurs” ranks two Wisconsin cities as tops:
			Green Bay, #5 (small)
			Madison, #6 (medium)
		La Crosse, Madison and Oshkosh rank No. 16, No. 20 and No. 45, respectively, on the magazine’s first list of “50 Smart Places to Live,” in 2006.
		Wisconsin has lean government.  We rank:
			43rd among the 50 states in the relative size of the government work force.  For every 1,000 residents, there are 12 state employees in Wisconsin, and, by way of contrast, 43 in Hawaii, which is ranked #1.
			38th in the relative size of the state payroll.   Wisconsin's state payroll is $51 per resident - #1 Hawaii's is $164.
			38th in the relative size of the state and local government workforces combined.  For every 1,000 residents, there are 52 state and local public employees in Wisconsin and 89 in Wyoming, the leader in this area.
			25th in per capita disposable income, a ranking that takes into account taxes, fees, tuition and hospitalization costs.
		Wisconsin ranks second-lowest nationally in the average cost of combined auto insurance coverage per vehicle, according to the most-recent survey by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (204 data).
		Property tax exemptions for manufacturing machinery and equipment, computers and computer equipment; inventories and pollution-control equipment; tax credits for energy used in manufacturing and for R & D
		60-percent capital gains exclusion
		No inheritance and gift taxes
		No unitary tax on foreign-owned corporations
		Single-sales factor tax treatment adopted
		Sales tax exemption for energy used in manufacturing

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