Lee Pulaski, lpulaski@shawanoleader.com
Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski Gov. Scott Walker signs a bill providing for income and property tax relief as part of his Blueprint for Prosperity on Monday at Horsens Homestead Farms in the town of Green Valley. He was joined by, from left, state Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, Rep. Gary Tauchen, R-Bonduel, Curtis Horsens, Abbey Horsens, Ryan Horsens, Connie Horsens and Jeff Horsens.
Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch talks about the income and property tax cuts mapped out in Gov. Scott Walker’s Blueprint for Prosperity on Monday at Horsens Homestead Farms with state Rep. Gary Tauchen, R-Bonduel, and Rep. Jeff Mursau, R-Wausau.
Gov. Scott Walker chose a farm in the town of Green Valley as the place to sign a bill cutting Wisconsin residents’ income and property taxes.
With Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, several state representatives and the owners of Horsens Homestead Farms watching, Walker on Monday signed legislation that is expected to give the average Wisconsin resident $46 in income tax relief beginning April 1 and will give the average property owner a reduction of $131 in state taxes in December.
The signing caps Walker’s Blueprint for Prosperity, which he introduced in his State of the State address in January. With a $911 million surplus in Madison, Walker pushed for tax relief and socking away some of the money — $100 million — in the rainy day fund.
Walker said picking the Horsens farm for the signing made sense.
“They represent both a business and a family, and what we’re going to sign into law here as part of the Blueprint for Prosperity is about helping families and employers prosper,” Walker said. “What we’re doing is taking that surplus and putting it in the hands of the people.”
Walker noted personal income for the state has gone up 4.5 percent, and the state will be taking less in withholding from paychecks. That means the average family with both parents working can expect to take home an additional $522 by the end of the year, he said.
“We think the best way to keep the economy humming is to put the money in the hands of the hard-working taxpayers,” Walker said.
This is the third straight year Wisconsin has cut taxes in some form or fashion, Walker said, with the total tax cuts approaching $2 billion. In contrast, neighboring Minnesota and Illinois have increased taxes, he said.
Walker panned claims by Democrats that he is taking this action because of the gubernatorial election in November.
“I’ve cut taxes every year I’ve been in office, so I think it’s hard to say it’s a gimmick when I’ve done it three years in a row,” Walker said. “I think what they’ve got is the frustration that we’ve kept our promises.”
Property taxes this December are expected to be lower than they were in December 2010, Walker said.
Rep. Gary Tauchen, R-Bonduel, called the tax cut bill the biggest piece of legislation passed this year, save for the budget. He was excited to have the legislation signed into law in Shawano County, as agriculture is one of the state’s biggest economic drivers.
“It’s really important that we give back to the people who have helped expand and grow our state, and this is our opportunity to do that,” Tauchen said. “We need so much money to run the state, but if there’s extra, instead of spending it or starting new programs, we’re trying to give it back so we can help the people through the recession.”
Kleefisch said the increase in money circulating around the state can be attributed partially to the agriculture industry, especially exports. She noted that total exports from Wisconsin increased 9 percent last year, with the dairy industry seeing a 41 percent hike.
“When there is a surplus, there’s nobody who wants to see that more than the people who earned that money, the taxpayers,” Kleefisch said.