Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce | Milwaukee, WI 53202
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MMAC members play a vital role in developing the Blueprint for Economic Prosperity priorities. Below is a summary of significant MMAC items approved in last year's state budget.

Feel free to contact VP of Gov. Affairs Steve Baas at 414/287-4138 for further information concerning these or other state budget items.

Thriving Economy

MMAC Blueprint Goal:  “Create a tax, regulatory and business climate that positions Wisconsin for economic growth – nationally and internationally.”
Income Tax Rate Cuts – ($648 million tax cut)
Reduce rates across all Wisconsin individual income tax brackets and reduce the number of brackets:
Income Level       
Less than $10,880       
$10,990-$21,760       
$21,760-$163,220    
$163,220-$239,600
More than $239,600
Current Rate
4.60%
6.15%
6.50%
6.75%
7.75%
New Rate
4.40%
 5.84%
 6.27%
 6.27%
7.65%
Tax Treatment Federalization –  ($8.1 million tax cut)
Make Wisconsin’s tax code less expensive and less complicated for business by federalizing treatment of capital gains on small business stock, and depreciation and depletion expensing.
Operating Loss Carry Forward/Look Back – ($8.5 million tax cut)
Allow net operating losses to be carried forward for up to 20 years and carried back for 2 years under the individual income tax. Currently, operating losses may only be carried forward 15 years and carrybacks are not allowed in Wisconsin.
Angel Investment Tax Credits
Eliminate the current $47.5 million limit on the maximum amount of Angel Investment Tax Credits that may be awarded by WEDC.
Jobs Tax Credit – ($12 million credit increase)
Increase funding for the Jobs Tax Credit by $12 million. Along with the Enterprise Zone Tax Credit, the Jobs Tax Credit has been the most effective tax incentive tools used by the Milwaukee 7 in its job recruitment efforts.
Enterprise Zone Tax Credit – ($4.6 million credit increase)
Increase funding by $4.6 million and expand eligibility for the Enterprise Zone Tax Credit.
Estate Tax
Sunset Wisconsin’s estate tax statutes for deaths occurring after December 31, 2012.  These statutes would go into effect again if federal law is modified to allow a credit for state death taxes.

Talented Workforce

MMAC Blueprint Goal:  “A regional workforce powered by innovative, knowledgeable and skilled individuals who are productive lifelong learners.”
Public Education Funding
Increase general and categorical school aids to public schools by 3.4%.
Increase MPS Per Pupil Revenue Limit
Raise existing Milwaukee Public Schools spending limit by $150 per pupil each year  over the next two years.
Current     2013-14    2014-15
 $9,799      $9,949      $10,099
School Choice Per Pupil Funding
Increase per pupil funding for Milwaukee Parental Choice students as follows:
Pupil Grade
K-8 
9-12
Current
 $6,442
$6,442
2013-14
$6,442
$6,442
2014-15
 $7,210
$7,856
Charter School Per Pupil Funding
Increase per pupil funding for independent charter schools by $150 each year to the total  below:
                    Current     2013-14       2014-15
                    $7,775         $7,925         $8,075
Choice Funding Flaw Fix
Eliminate local property tax impact of Milwaukee Parental Choice program by phasing in  100% state funding of the program over the next 12 years.
UWM Charter Expansion Authority
Allow the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to establish independent charter schools  anywhere in Milwaukee County or an adjacent county.  Under current law, UWM’s  chartering authority is limited to the MPS service area.
Common Core Academic Standards
Maintain state support and implementation schedule for adoption of the Common Core  State Standards in English and mathematics. These rigorous, national academic  standards will replace the state’s existing and much criticized Wisconsin Knowledge Concepts Examination.
Teach for America
Provide $1 million in state support for Teach for America (TFA), and allow TFA  experience to count toward professional advancement and administrator education in  Wisconsin schools.
Choice School Accreditation
Increase Choice school accountability by requiring that schools in the Choice program  successfully maintain their accreditation as a condition of continued program eligibility.
Charter School Teaching License
Allow increased flexibility for licensing teachers in Charter schools.
Work-Based Learning
Allow the Cristo Rey model of vocational, work-based education programming for high  school students to operate in Wisconsin.
Unemployment Insurance Reform
Make comprehensive reforms to Wisconsin’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) system to  increase system solvency, tighten work requirements, and demand more accountability  from UI recipients.

Distinctive Place

MMAC Blueprint Goal: “Position the Metro Milwaukee Region as a unique destination for business, talent and commerce.”
Sale of State Properties
Allow the state to sell or lease state properties to private businesses if they believe it is in  the best interest of the state, if the asset is competitively offered for purchase, and the  proposed sale receives the approval of the legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance. Restrictions are placed on the sale of any state building that was built or acquired with  more than 50% private or federal funds.
Mass Transit
Increase state funding for transit by 4% and ensure that transit funding remains part of  the state’s dedicated Transportation Fund.
SE WI Major Highway Projects
Maintain original completion schedule for I-94 North-South, Zoo Interchange and  Lake Interchange reconstruction projects, despite funding cuts.
I-94 East-West

Allow DOT to begin preliminary design and engineering work associated with I-94 East- West and delete statutory provisions prohibiting this project from adding additional  traffic lanes between Hawley Road and the Stadium Interchange.
Copyright © 2018 Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.  All rights reserved.
756 N. Milwaukee St., Ste. 400 - Milwaukee, WI 53202  |  Tel 414/287-4100 | Fax 414/271-7753 | info@mmac.org


  • About
    • Why join the MMAC? >
      • Join now
      • Request More Information
    • Member benefits >
      • Advertising
      • Coupons and discounts
      • Certificates of origin
      • Event Benefits
      • Health insurance plan
      • Members only >
        • Submit an event
        • Add a coupon/discount
        • Submit news about your company
        • Update email preferences
        • Promote your MMAC membership
      • Office supplies discount
    • Board of directors
    • Contact us
    • Members of the media
    • Publication archive >
      • Milwaukee Commerce magazine
      • Metro business news
    • Staff
  • Events
    • MMAC event calendar
    • Event photos >
      • 2017 MMAC All Member Meeting
      • Brewer Outing
      • Business After Hours
      • COSBE Holiday Gathering
      • Executive Roundtable Golf Outing
      • Foxconn Announcement with Governor Walker
      • Future 50 Awards Luncheon
      • Madison Night in Milwaukee
      • Milwaukee 7 Investor Celebration
      • TBC Strategic Partnership Luncheon
      • Wisconsin International Trade Conference photos
      • Workforce development events
    • Community events calendar
    • Submit an event
    • Sponsorship
  • Networks
    • Ethnically-diverse businesses
    • Future 50 Awards >
      • Future 50 winner archive
    • Executive roundtable program >
      • Roundtable News
    • Food and beverage manufacturers
    • International >
      • Wisconsin International Trade Conference
      • Benefits of WTA membership >
        • Join WTA now
      • WTA member directory
      • Global Pulse - eNewsletter Archive
      • WTA events
      • Volunteer leadership
    • Lead generation
    • Roundtables for high-growth companies
    • Small business >
      • Council of Small Business Executives
    • Young professionals
  • Talent Development
    • Education recommendations >
      • Supportive policies
      • Quality schools
      • Effective Educators
      • Community engagement
    • Ranking Milwaukee County Schools
    • Career-based learning
    • Business tours for 7th graders
    • Attracting & retaining employees
    • Emerging leader series
  • Advocacy
    • Legislator voting records
    • Pro-business public policy agenda >
      • Distinct place
      • Diversity & Inclusion
      • Talented Workforce
      • Thriving economy
      • Small business legislative agenda
    • WI governmental officials directory >
      • Milwaukee county
      • Ozaukee county
      • Washington county
      • Waukesha county
  • Economic Growth
    • FoxConn project
    • Attracting & retaining businesses
    • Expanding global exports
    • Food & beverage cluster
    • Milwaukee Development Corp.
    • Milwaukee EB-5 Visa program
    • Milwaukee Urban Strategic Investment Corp. (MUSIC)
    • Metro Milwaukee reports
    • Starting a business >
      • BizStarts
      • New business planning guide
  • About the Region
    • 2018 Navigate Business MKE
    • Benchmarking metro MKE
    • Business outlook survey
    • Economic Trends
    • Local media listings
    • Major employers in metro Milwaukee
    • Metro Milwaukee demographics
    • Order a publication
    • Relocating a business
  • Directory
    • MMAC Virtual Business & Area Guide
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