Impartial Research For Informed Debate

The Wisconsin Policy Forum is a nonpartisan, independent statewide policy research organization with offices in Milwaukee and Madison. Our mission is to provide informed, nonpartisan analysis of critical policy issues affecting local governments, school districts, and the state of Wisconsin. Our research and facilitation activities encourage elected officials and community leaders to find effective, data-driven solutions to pressing policy challenges, and promote productive discussion among the public and private sectors.

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Featured Research

Sep

23

Policy in a Pub – Milwaukee

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Merriment Social
240 E Pittsburgh Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53204
TBD

Policy in a Pub – Madison

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

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Featured Research

In February 2019, with Milwaukee in the midst of a downtown development boom, the Wisconsin Policy Forum published a report that found the city is making greater use of tax increment financing (TIF) to spur development than ever before. While the city has used TIF for several decades to foster private development by paying for associated public infrastructure and site preparation work, it has drawn on the tool for additional purposes in recent years. One project that exemplifies this shift is Milwaukee’s new streetcar system, The Hop. The city has dedicated $59 million in TIF funding to constructing the system’s first phase.

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Northwestern Mutual

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In The News

MBJ Podcast #25: Milwaukee’s streetcar financing challenges and Mayfair mall’s enduring success

Milwaukee Business JournalRead More

In The News

Report: Milwaukee Used More TIF Money Than Any Other City To Fund The Hop

Wisconsin Public RadioRead More

In The News

Minnesota takes advantage of brain drain in Wisconsin, North and South Dakota

City PagesRead More