5 Wisconsin Tax Day facts you didn’t know

Tom Giffey |

1. WE’RE INDEPENDENT …

April 15 is the deadline for paying the taxman, and that got us thinking about where our tax dollars are going – or not going. One interesting assessment: Wisconsin is among the least-dependent states on the federal government. According to rankings compiled by WalletHub, a personal finance website, Wisconsin ranks 18th (with No. 1 – New Jersey – being least-dependent on federal dough). This is in part because of the low number of federal employees in Wisconsin and the relatively small share of our state budget that comes from Washington, D.C.

2. … UP TO A POINT

Of course, that doesn’t mean we don’t get any money from the federal government. In fact, according to the same study, Wisconsin got $1.79 in federal spending for every buck it sent to D.C. That’s a pretty good return on investment (though it means other states are subsidizing spending here).

3. PRESTO DINERO

One of Wisconsin’s biggest recipients of federal funds is right here in Eau Claire: National Presto Industries may be known for kitchen appliances, but it’s a major defense contractor, too. Between the 2010 and 2014 fiscal years, Presto got more than $593 million in federal defense contracts, according to the official USAspending.gov website. Presto and its defense subsidiaries manufacture 40mm ammunition, fuses, cartridge cases, and “less lethal” products like tear gas canisters.

4. BIG BURDEN

Wisconsin is ranked as one of the most costly states tax-wise, thanks to its relatively high property tax and state income tax burdens. In fact, a WalletHub survey ranked Wisconsin third worst (or, if you prefer, 49th best!) out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. A study by the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance was a little better, putting Wisconsin at 15th highest in per-capita taxes in 2012.

5. HOME SWEET HOME

Surprisingly, average property taxes in Dunn County are higher than those in Eau Claire County ($2,952 vs. $2,677, according to a 2012 study by the Tax Policy Center, a national think-tank). Both are far behind Dane County, where average property taxes at $4,279.