Focus #7
2018
Foxconn Could Bring Big Changes to Transportation, Transit
The planned Foxconn manufacturing complex in Racine County is requiring state and local leaders to rethink long-standing policies about infrastructure, jobs, economic development, and municipal service boundaries. At the recent Wisconsin Policy Forum annual meeting, a panel of speakers discussed
Read MoreFocus #6
2018
AFRs & CAFRs, Surpluses & Deficits
Two key financial documents appear to paint conflicting pictures of state finances in 2017. Accounting differences explain much of the discrepancy between a positive $579 million budgetary balance reported in the AFR and a negative $1.6 billion GAAP balance in
Read MoreFocus #5
2018
On the Ballot: The Fate of Wisconsin’s State Treasurer
The April 3rd election ballot asks voters to consider amending the state constitution to abolish the state treasurer’s office. In recent decades, lawmakers and the governor have transferred most of the treasurer’s duties to other state agencies. If voters approve
Read MoreFocus #4
2018
Wisconsin’s Teacher Workforce: Trends in Supply and Turnover
Staffing figures from the Department of Public Instruction show a spike in the number of teachers leaving the workforce following 2011 Act 10. In recent years, that number has returned to “normal” and districts have been able to replace those
Read MoreFocus #3
2018
Spring Elections in Wisconsin
Turnout for Wisconsin’s nonpartisan spring elections tends to be about half that for fall partisan races. The drop-off may be due in part to a lack of competitive races for county, city, village, town, and school board offices. However, this
Read MoreFocus #2
2018
School Finance: Here vs. Elsewhere
A recently announced legislative task force will spend 2018 studying Wisconsin’s school funding formula, which has not undergone major change for about 25 years. The committee will explore issues of both equity and adequacy, areas where Wisconsin typically outperforms other
Read MoreFocus #1
2018
Welcome to the Wisconsin Policy Forum
The merger of Wisconsin’s two oldest and most-respected nonpartisan policy research groups creates a new organization with broader research capabilities and an enhanced communications platform. The mission, however, remains the same: to provide expert, nonpartisan policy analysis that informs Wisconsin
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