IN MY OPINION: Snowbirds’ remorse: Wisconsin is no longer the tax hell that prompted their flight south

There will be a temptation on the part of Republican candidates for governor in 2026 to play up their standard GOP line that Wisconsin is a tax hell. That may have been true 25 years ago when the state was in the Big Ten for tax rankings. But that perception no longer holds water.

Back then, when I was involved in the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, Wisconsin ranked fourth highest in 1999-2000 in the combination of state and local taxes as a percentage of personal income at 13%.

The highly reliable Tax Foundation now puts Wisconsin at 28th for total state and local taxes in 2025. That’s a huge drop in our historical position.

Per the Foundation, collections at the state and local levels are now $5,953 per capita. That compares to an average across 50 states of $7,109. We are happily well below average.

Our state ranks better on taxes than all our neighboring states, except for Michigan.

We all know retirees who have moved to Florida and Arizona partly for tax reasons. But their savings in those two states are not so great anymore. Florida comes in at $4,914, and Arizona is at $5,232. These days, the snowbirds must be leaving more for the weather than to find a tax haven.

The 2025 Tax Foundation report comes at a pivotal time for the Wisconsin gubernatorial race. The state has a large cash surplus, some of which could be used for further tax reductions.

The game has changed in terms of competition with other states. We are now in the middle of the pack on taxes. That means that citizens and their politicians can consider other dimensions of life in Wisconsin. There is room for investment in these sectors:

Education at all levels, a longstanding strategy for the state.

Infrastructure—roads, bridges, ports, airports, and broadband, all essential to a modern, productive economy.

The environment, which faces never-ending challenges as we humans tap into our natural resources. The Great Lakes, for example, are a tremendous resource for Wisconsin, as are our rivers and inland lakes. They all face threats that require investment to cure.

Entrepreneurship, the major source of new jobs and reinvention of an ever-changing economy.

Note, however, Wisconsin is still below average in economic growth. It’s 30th in private-sector job growth and 29th in wage growth. That suggests more work needs to be done reducing regulatory burdens, controlling health care costs, and better connecting higher education with business needs.