(The Center Square) – A fiscal analysis from the libertarian Cato Institute grades Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers as one of six governors with an “F” in terms of fiscal policy, taxes and spending.
Evers joins Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on the list of F grades along with John Carney of Delaware, Jay Inslee of Washington, Janet Mills of Maine and Kathy Hochul of New York.
The group points to recent budget surpluses in Wisconsin and Evers’ veto of a $3 billion and $2 billion tax cut plans from the legislature in 2023 along with a $750 million tax bracket adjustment for middle-income earners in 2024 and a cut on retirement income taxes and taxes on married couples.
“As governor, Evers has often been at odds with the legislature,” Cato wrote. “Upon entering office, he focused on boosting education spending, expanding Medicaid, hiking the gas tax, and increasing the minimum wage.”
The top 10 states in the rankings starting at the top are Iowa, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, South Dakota, Montana, Hawaii, Georgia, Idaho, and Vermont.
Wisconsin’s Annual Fiscal Report showed a positive balance of $4.6 billion and a record-high $1.9 billion in its rainy day fund.
The state tax collections of $21.3 billion continued to increase at 1.7%.
That included the state collecting $9.7 billion in individual income tax, $7.6 billion in sales and use taxes and $2.7 billion in corporate franchise and income taxes.