The state with the highest median real estate taxes is Wisconsin ~ Retirement Living. This is because incumbent politicians only promise tax reform. The people can demand fair taxes and replace the property tax with fairer taxes by voting for new politicians in the next election. The people can Stop The Old Politicians (STOP) and Stop Taxes On Property (STOP). When every taxpayer demands fair taxes and fair tax reform, our new politicians will have no choice but to reform our taxes if they want to be re-elected. If they do not make reforms before the next election - vote for new lawmakers. "People want just taxes more than they want lower taxes." - Will Rogers.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

1. Contact your politicians today and demand The Fair Tax Plan! 

2. Run this add in your local daily or weekly paper or publication.

Stop Taxes On Property!

Stop The Old Politicians!

STOP THE OLD POLITICIANS!

1. DEMAND CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM - 100% public financing of campaigns will return politicians to employees of the people rather than dependants of large special interest campaign contributors. It is unlikely we will get property tax reform or health care without campaign finance reform unless we vote out incumbents

2. VOTE FOR NEW POLITICIANS - Voting for new politicians at every elections will accomplish #1. Incumbent politicians do not really want reforms. They like to talk reform and not provide it. If you want  property taxes slashed 85% or health care reform or campaign finance reform, you need to vote for new politicians at every election until these reforms are provided.

Had enough of partisan polititics and petty bickering. Our incumbent politicians have promised to slash property taxes for 160 years in Wisconsin. They promise affordable health care at each election and only they have it. They all promise campaign finance reform and blame all other politicians that it has not happened.

Incumbents are the problem. They are not listening to the voters. They are listening to special interests who provide big donations to their campaigns. It is time to STOP - Stop Taxes On Property by replacing our current property tax with fair taxes (The Fair Tax Plan below). It is time for all of us to have the health care our politicians and other state employees have. It is time to STOP - Stop The Old Politicians by voting for new politicians each election if the old ones do not provide reforms by the next election. Inexperienced lawmakers will make better employees of voters!

WHAT'S WRONG WITH WISCONSIN?

We keep re-electing the incumbents politicians who promise reforms, but never deliver. They never deliver reforms because special interests give large campaign donations to these politicians for their tax exemptions and their special benefits. Voters can no longer trust incumbents to vote for reforms. Thus, voters must vote in new reformers. If you want something done, contact your politicians today and simply demand reforms before the next election! If the reform is not provided, vote for new names.

STOP TAXES ON PROPERTY!

THE FAIR TAX PLAN:

A. Slashes property taxes in Wisconsin an average of 85% to a local tax only for local property related services similar to many Southern and Western States. Schools and Counties would be financed with fairer income taxes, sales taxes, revenue sharing and fees.

B. Funds property tax reform and continues essential services by eliminating special-interest tax exemptions on all taxes. Everyone pays the same taxes or gets the same benefits. Makes taxes fair in Wisconsin.

C. Provides all students an equal educational opportunity by funding schools with General Revenue on a per student and special needs basis.

D. Reduces the state income tax rate to 4% on all income above poverty level income. The only exemption would be poverty level income per person or family.

E. Reduces the state sales tax rate to 4% and applies it to all retail sales and services. Those who buy high priced steak or cars pay more.

F. Eliminates government-for-sale. As all taxes and all benefits apply equally to all there is no benefit for a special-interest to lobby for exemptions or special benefits.

G. Makes government efficient by assigning non-duplicative services to the various levels of government - local, county, state and federal government. No duplication in services saves tax dollars.

THE FAIR TAX PLAN:

The Fair Tax Plan is a blueprint for government, tax, education and campaign finance reform for any state that now uses regressive property taxes to fund education, counties etc; and/or that allows special-interest tax exemptions or benefits for the few at the expense of others.


1. REPEAL ALL SPECIAL-INTEREST TAX EXEMPTION DEVICES:

Repeal all 300 Wisconsin tax exemption devices. They do not benefit all taxpayers directly. Call 1-608- 266-6466 for a copy of the 300 exemptions in the Wisconsin Dept. of Revenue booklet "Summary of Tax Exemption Devices". If lawmakers do not adopt reform, special-interests will continue to demand more tax exemptions and fewer and fewer will be paying the taxes.

Campaign Finance Reform eliminates our politicians being beholden to large campaign contributors. Eliminating special-interest legislation means special-interests cannot buy tax exemptions devices or other benefits with large campaign donations. It is the best campaign finance reform as it prevents government-for-sale.

No reason justifies exempting or benefiting one taxpayer, group or class at the expense of another. Every taxpayer should be treated equally under state law (14th Amendment, U.S. Constitution). AT&T exemptions, loan guarantees, real estate exempted from taxes, TIF districts, booths at the new Brewers stadium exempted from sales taxes and any special-interest benefit - all cost other taxpayers. Something is wrong in Wisconsin when legislators exempt more than 35% of the real estate, 50% of income, and 50% of purchases from taxation. Unless our real estate, our income and our purchases are also exempt, it is unfair. Per our state Constitution, an exemption to a tax must be "reasonable" - it is reasonable only if it benefits all taxpayers immediately and directly because the 14th amendment of the US Constitution states that no state shall make any law that denies any citizen equal protection under the law.

Most taxpayers get a few exemptions? Who gets the other 300 in Wisconsin? Whose building or land or income or purchase should be exempt from tax? Who should get a state benefit? The answer is no one or everyone. Why should anyone be exempt from any tax when such exemption makes someone else pay more? If everyone paid all taxes most taxpayers would pay 1/3 to 1/2 less in property, income and sales taxes. And, every benefit should benefit all citizens equally. If prisoners, legislators, veterans, seniors, state employees, farmers, or the poor can get health benefits - all citizens should get the same benefit.

Lawmakers can repeal all state tax devices. Some exemptions require federal changes, or time for contracts to expire unless they were illegal under the law when granted. Every special-interest will thus contribute to reform. Many will scream if they lose a special benefit, but anyone not willing to pay their fair share can be escorted over the border.

The billions in special-interest benefits and tax exemptions are more than enough to pay for reform. If eliminated the revenue could replace the entire property tax and reduce state income and sales tax rates. Slashed property taxes and cut income and sales tax rates will more than offset the few lost tax deductions for most. The $100's in increased sales taxes will be offset by $1000's saved in property taxes and reduced rents. Those who buy expensive food will pay more taxes. Farm feed and fertilizer and manufacturing "raw materials" will remain exempt from a retail sales tax. A sales tax on occasional equipment purchases will remain deductible to farmers and businesses as a business expense and be far less than the annaul property tax cost.


2. ASSIGN EACH LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT DUTIES AND A TAX:

Waste occurs when towns, cities, counties, school districts, state and various departments provide police protection, snow removal, social services, nursing care, psychiatric help, etc. By assigning each level of government, agency, and department specific non-duplicating duties and a tax to pay for each level, this Plan will end all duplication and waste in administration and delivery of services and thus further reduce taxes. All essential services could be maintained.

A. Schools Will Be Funded With General Revenues:

Schools can be financed 100% by general state revenue by eliminating either the exemptions on our sales tax or on our income tax. Any level of government can operate on an income or sale tax or revenue sharing.

Funding schools with general revenue on a per student basis will give each state student in the State an equal educational opportunity. School boards would receive 100% of payments from general state revenue. Local school board control can be retained. Control did not change when general revenues picked up 66% of the costs and need not change with 100% funding. Special needs can also be funded.

Schools would be helped. They now hurt from a tax that pits the needs of our kids against angry property owners. Education needs fair funding. Education is our most important asset. Each child in Wisconsin, regardless of where in Wisconsin, deserves an equal education opportunity. A third of the state Supreme Courts have declared the local property tax unconstitutional as a means to fund statewide education as local disparities in total assessments make it impossible for many schools to adequately fund basic educational needs of district children. In Wisconsin, in 1997-1998, spending per student varied from $6000 to $17,000 between school districts.


B. Counties would deliver all social services funded by state and federal revenue sharing on a per person basis. They could retain a 1/2% sales tax.


C. Municipalities would provide local property related services via a small local property tax:

The property tax would be slashed on average 85% statewide. Lawmakers do not have to property tax seniors out of their homes or farmers off their land to finance schools or counties or state forests.

Repeal school, education, county and state property taxes. Reduce the property tax to a small local tax on all real estate in each city, town or village for local real estate related services (police and fire protection, garbage pickup, weed cutting, etc). The local tax on a $150,000 home would average $600. Churches, Governments, Indians, and tax exempt organizations would pay their fair share to local governments for local real estate related services. No one should have to pay for the local property service costs for the exempt buildings and land of others. Personal property taxes should either "all" be taxed (including machinery, stocks, bonds, boats etc) or should "all" be exempted.

Taxes shifted to the property tax in the past will now be based on income, ability to pay, and fairness. Those hurt most by the tax can keep their homes, businesses and farms. State businesses and farmers can compete with other states. Wisconsin's high property tax now costs far more farm and small business jobs than gained by all programs to attract new jobs. Many good customers and jobs are now lost by sending seniors and manufacturers south for low property taxes. The billions saved in regressive property taxes can be first put into the economy to create a perpetual construction boom helpful to business, jobs, and income and sales tax revenues. Many will afford homes with payments absent huge property taxes. Additions to homes, factories and farm buildings will mushroom. Rents will drop 20% as landlords with big property tax savings compete for tenants. More jobs and home ownership will cut social problems.

The concern that other types of revenue are not as stable as the property tax is foolish. Governments and schools now operate on income and sales taxes and shared revenues. Perhaps government could assure budget stability by raising revenue one year and spending it in the next.

The Wisconsin property tax is unfair, regressive, out-of-date, 2-3 times the national average, doubles every 10 years. It hurts farmers, seniors, businesses and keeps young families from qualifying for home loans. It forces one spouse to work to pay outrageous taxes. Homes should be the castles of citizens - not their tax prisons. Morally tax bills should not hurt people with no income, low income, or fixed income. Taxes should not rise if citizens improve their home, a neighbor sells, a school is built, or the needy are bussed into the county. Legally taxes should be based on income, ability to pay, and fairness. Logically the property tax should only fund local real estate related services.

Wisconsin politicians offer "token relief" to get votes. Michigan lawmakers slashed property taxes 50% in 1 day - after a couple upstate farm school districts voted down their budgets rather than tax their citizens off their properties. Schools didn't close because they changed the tax system - voters closed schools to change the tax system! California slashed and froze their property tax years ago. Their problems were a defense-based economy and immigration - not changing how they funded education. In many states the property tax is $4 to $5 per $1000. In Wisconsin many seniors now pay 25% and farmers on average pay 40% of their net income to the property tax. In comparison, the average state taxpayer pays a total of about 13% of their income to all state taxes. In 1995 farmers paid 155% just to the property taxes. Their tax payments come from loans until they must sell their farms to pay their loans. Many cannot sell their farms because the farm cannot produce a living and pay the taxes.


3. SHARE THIS MESSAGE WITH POLITICIANS MONTHLY:

A. EMAIL OR WRITE EDITORS:
OUR efforts will succeed if every voter demands action! Writing editors of newspapers and magazines influences voters and politicians. Tell how property taxes hurt you, your kids,  parents and grandparents. Demand reform befor the next election. Send a copy to politicians too!


B. PHONE, VISIT, EMAIL OR WRITE STATE SENATORS & REPRESENTATIVES: CALL 1-800-362-9472. Leave messages with aides. Don't take no for an answer. Demand THE FAIR TAX PLAN reform to Stop Taxes On Property before the next election or vote for new politicians and Stop The Old Politicians.

COPY and EMAIL THIS PAGE MONTHLY TO STATE REPRESENTATIVES: www.legis.state.wi.us/leginfo/asmmail.asp

COPY OR EMAIL THIS PAGE MONTHLY TO ALL SENATORS: www.legis.state.wi.us/leginfo/senmail.asp

PHONE, VISIT, WRITE OR EMAIL THE GOVERNOR:
State Capitol, Room 115E, Madison, WI 53702.
Phone: 608-266-1212
Fax: 608-267-8983
EMAIL THIS PAGE M0NTHLY TO: wisgov@mail.state.wi.us
wisgov@mail.state.wi.us

C. RUN THIS AD IN YOUR LOCAL PAPER:

D. ADD THIS WEB SITE - FairTaxes.com - TO YOUR WEB SITE PAGES:

E. SEE THESE LINKS & ADD THEM TO YOUR WEB PAGES:

Wisconsin Democracy Campaign - Join the effort for reforms in Wisconsin.

Throw The Rascals Out - Wisconsin incumbent politicians need to be replaced inorder to get needed reforms.

F. STOP THE OLD POLITICIANS - Vote for New Leaders! No reforms. No Re-election.  Their old promises have not been kept.

If you do nothing, nothing will be done.

Thank you,

Gary Bahr
The Fair Tax Plan (FairTaxes.com)
Stop Taxes On Property (STOP)
Stop The Old Politicians (STOP)
1090 Severson Road
Belleville, WI 53508-9233


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