Business leaders decry tax increases in state budget

SOURCE: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

While providing a welcome boost to high-tech entrepreneurship, Wisconsin's new budget on the whole solidifies the perception of the state as a tax-happy, business-unfriendly place, company owners and leaders of business groups say.

They credit the Legislature and Gov. Doyle for increasing incentives that already are luring promising young firms to Wisconsin. But those positives, they say, are far outweighed by such things as a bump in the personal tax rate on the highest earners and what amounts to a hefty increase in capital gains taxes.

"They've sure given a lot of people the impetus to get the hell out of here," business owner Michael L. Hansen said.

The latest moves likely will land Wisconsin back in the top 10 states in terms of tax burden, said Todd Berry, president of the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance.

The state now holds 11th place, based on 2006 data. But between the two-year budget enacted last month and the deficit-closing budget repair bill that passed in February, Wisconsin has added significantly to its taxes and fees, Berry said.

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