Wisconsin Republican legislative leaders said Tuesday they want to tap the state’s projected record-high $6.6 billion budget surplus to make “transformational” and once-a-generation tax law changes.
Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) said he wanted to move toward a flat income tax rate.
“We can make transformational tax changes in Wisconsin,” LeMahieu said. “We definitely need to drive down our top rates.”
Wisconsin’s income tax rates begin at 3.54% and increase to 7.65%. The top rate applies to single filers earning $280,950 and up; married joint filers making more than $374,600; and married people filing separate returns with taxable income of more than $187,300, according to the state Department of Revenue.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) said he wanted to cut taxes “as much as we possibly can” and “it needs to be long term and permanent.” That includes eliminating a property tax, a tax paid by businesses. Evers last session vetoed a bill to eliminate the tax.