PHILOSOPHY OF
ORGANIZATION
As a 501(c)(3), the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance (WISTAX) is the state’s oldest and most respected private government research organization. Since 1932, it has been promoting better government and an informed citizenry through its publications, public outreach and extensive school programs. Nonpartisan and fiercely independent, the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance has earned an unrivaled reputation for accurate, objective research - for telling the truth simply and directly.

WISTAX seeks to explain how state and local government work, so voters and taxpayers, students and teachers can be more active and informed citizens. By providing reliable data to members of the legislature, county boards, school boards, city councils and other government bodies, WISTAX helps them to arrive at intelligent decisions. WISTAX also provides consulting on government and tax issues to public officials, the news media and various other groups.


MAJOR PUBLICATIONS
• The Wisconsin Taxpayer - 12-page monthly magazine on state and local government and finance.
• Focus - 2-page newsletter covers current legislative developments - from tax reform to state spending trends. Issued 28 times per year.
• SchoolFacts04 - Annual 150-page book containing performance and financial data
 for each school district in Wisconsin.
• Measuring Success: Benchmarks for a Competitive Wisconsin - An annual 48-page report card tracking Wisconsin’s competitive position among the states. It looks at more than 30 measures of competitiveness - everything from agricultural income to venture capital, taxes to test scores.
• MunicipalFacts - 92-page, fact-filled book compares per capita expenditures from 1998 to 2002 in four spending categories for 219 Wisconsin cities and villages between 2,000 and 150,000 population. It also includes much more - municipal tax levies, tax rates, equalized values, shared revenues, debt, even income of residents.
• TAXES - Annual pocket-size guide to federal and state income taxes. Also contains information on all federal, state and local taxes paid by Wisconsin taxpayers.


WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT WISTAX
“The nonpartisan Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance has been following state budgets for more than 60 years and often supplies a valuable outside view of trends. . .”
Wisconsin State Journal


“[WTA] research is almost...financial gospel, widely cited by politicians, government leaders, civic groups and educators.”
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel