Submitted by Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch

Over the past few months, we’ve put thousands of miles on our car crossing Wisconsin talking about taxes.  In fact, one of my favorite parts of my job as lieutenant governor is the opportunity to meet people all over our great state.  I’ve held roundtable listening sessions in Beloit, Eau Claire, Superior, Green Bay, La Crosse, Stevens Point, Madison, Mequon, Milwaukee, and Oak Creek, and I have more coming up in Fond du Lac, Racine, and Rhinelander.

We’re trying to hit every region of our state to gather ideas and input on tax reform.  I’ve heard from farmers, veterans, tourism promoters, small business owners, working parents, doctors, realtors, retirees and students–Wisconsinites from every walk of life and every part of the state who have ideas for tax reform that help families’ budgets and employers’ bottom lines.

At the same time, I’ve been visiting newspapers from Antigo and Baraboo to Watertown and Waukesha.  At each of these stops, I share the good news about our Blueprint for Prosperity, which is Governor Walker’s plan for tax relief based on the state’s $911 million surplus.  This Blueprint will put $57.90 more each month in the paycheck of the average income taxpayer through our withholding changes.  That same taxpayer will save $58 on his or her taxes next year.  And the median homeowner will see $101 in property tax relief.  That’s real money that you can count on.

And it builds on what we’ve already accomplished to let you keep more of the money you earn.  In the last budget, we enacted $651 million in income tax cuts.  When the state received more money than we expected this fall, we put $100 million into property tax relief.

But as much progress as we’ve made in reducing taxes, we know there is still more work to do.  Lots more.  And that’s where you come in.  We’ve looking for you to speak up and sound off on tax reform.  Visit our website at taxreform.wi.gov to read about the roundtables, see a powerpoint on taxes, and then share your thoughts and stories.  Give us your honest comments about the ways that taxes affect your family, your employer, your future.   We’re looking for ways to improve the current system so we can further encourage economic growth while making it easier for Wisconsin families.

We’ll keep driving to meet you and your neighbors, spreading the good news and soliciting more feedback.  All you have to do is log onto the information superhighway.

Rebecca Kleefisch is Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin.