Taxes

• About the issue
• Why does this matter to people with disabilities?
• Are there any proposals that would make a change in this issue?
• Who can I contact with my questions?
• Background Information For This Issue

About the issue: (Top of page)

Taxes pay for services that everyone uses or might need, such as police and fire protection, roads, and public education. There are several types of taxes. Individuals and corporations pay taxes and fees to the federal government to pay for services such as defense of the nation or the national parks system. A portion of taxes collected by the federal government are distributed to state and local governments to help pay for specific services. Income taxes, sales taxes, and fees collected by the state government are distributed to counties and local governments. County and local governments collect property and sales taxes to pay for services.

Deciding who pays taxes, how much they pay, and where the money goes is one of the biggest responsibilities of elected officials.

Why does this matter to people with disabilities? (Top of page)

People with disabilities pay taxes, however, they also benefit from taxes paid by other people. Taxes pay for Medicaid, vocational rehabilitation, employment, transportation and other programs people with disabilities need to live. Changes made to the tax structure can either reduce or expand the amount of services available to people.

Are there any proposals that would make a change in this issue? (Top of page)

• Assembly Bill 75 - State Budget
  This bill is Gov. Doyle's proposed 2009-2011 State Budget. It covers all of the state's expenese and revenues for the next two years starting 7-1-09. It affects most of the services and programs used by people with disabilities. [More on Assembly Bill 75 ]
  Outcome: This bill was passed by the legislature and signed by Gov. Doyle on June 29, 2009. It became Act 28.
• Assembly Bill 287 - Beer Tax
  Increases the beer tax to fund law enforcement grants as well as alcohol and drug abuse treatment and prevention programs. [More on Assembly Bill 287 ]
  Outcome: This bill had a public hearing but did not pass out of committee before the session ended. This matter will have to be addressed by the next legislature.
• Assembly Bill 334 - Special Olympics Tax Deduction
  This bill creates an individual income tax checkoff for Special Olympics Wisconsin, Inc., and requires that an amount equal to the total amount of designations received, less the total cost of administering the income tax check-off procedure, be appropria [More on Assembly Bill 334 ]
  Outcome: This bill never passed out of committee before the end of the session. This matter will have to be addressed by the next legislature.
• Assembly Bill 388 - Election Practices
  This bill makes several changes to the campaign financing law. It also makes changes to income tax laws, lobbying regulation law, and the staff of the Government Accountability Board. [More on Assembly Bill 388 ]
  Outcome: This bill never made it out of committee before the session ended. This matter will have to be addressed by the next legislature.
• Senate Bill 209 - Beer Tax
  Increases the beer tax to fund law enforcement grants as well as alcohol and drug abuse treatment and prevention programs. [More on Senate Bill 209 ]
  Outcome: This bill did not pass out of committee before the end of the session. This matter will have to be addressed by the next legislature.
• Senate Bill 221 - Election Practices
  This bill makes numerous changes in the campaign financing law. The bill also makes changes to the income tax laws, the lobbying regulation law, and the staffing of the Government Accountability Board. [More on Senate Bill 221 ]
  Outcome: This bill did not pass out of committee before the end of the session. The matter will have to be addressed by the next legislature.
• Senate Bill 233 - Special Olympics Tax Deduction
  This bill creates an individual income tax checkoff for Special Olympics Wisconsin, Inc., and requires that an amount equal to the total amount of designations received, less the total cost of administering the income tax check-off procedure, be appropria [More on Senate Bill 233 ]
  Outcome: This bill had a public hearing and passed out of committee. It was referred to the Joint Finance Committee where it stayed until the session ended. This matter will have to be addressed by the next legislature.

Who can I contact with my questions? (Top of page)

John Shaw
Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities
201 W. Washington Avenue
Madison WI 53703-2796
Phone: Voice (608) 266-7707; TDD (608) 266-6660
Email: John1.Shaw@wisconsin.gov
Fax: (608) 267-3906

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Background Information For This Issue (Top of page)

• Fiscal Bureau's Report on Amending State Sales Tax