Where's the data to explain differences in MN vs. WI state budgets?

[Steven Clift]

For all this talk of Minnesota state government having a surplus and
Wisconsin having a budget deficit, at least at the state level, it is
notable that in 2015 Wisconsin had a state budget of $45.4 billion
while Minnesota's was $35.2.

Scott Walker the big conservative spender? Mark Dayton the frugal progressive?

Minnesota only has 250,000 fewer people than Wisconsin now.

So what does Wisconsin state government spend $10 Billion dollars more
on than Minnesota?

Or does Minnesota tax $10 Billion dollars at the city/county level or
charge more for tuition or bring in more money in other ways to
non-state level governments? (Which doesn't seem right because
Wisconsin is known for much higher property taxes percentage wise ...
unless MN property is more valuable.)

According to another source, our state and local spending as a percent
of state GDP (MN's is a bit higher) is about the same:
WI: 19.19%
MN: 19.06%

Source: http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/compare_state_spending_F0p

Source on spending above:
https://ballotpedia.org/Minnesota_state_budget_and_finances
https://ballotpedia.org/Wisconsin_state_budget_and_finances

Anyone have some good data to explain the differences?

Thanks,
Steve

Steven Clift - Executive Director, E-Democracy.org
cl...@e-democracy.org - +1 612 234 7072
@democracy - http://linkedin.com/in/netclift
http://1radionews.com - My radio app

[Graham, Todd]

Hi Steve--

If you're interested in inter-state comparisons, you should be looking a combined state & local government budgets.

I say this because the states are all have very different divisions of public sector responsibilities -- what state govs do and what their local govs do.

For example, a state like N.H. has no income tax -- but the property taxes are huge. In that state, most government work is devolved to local level. N.H. is an extreme example. MN and Wis are more average and typical. Both MN and Wis have state revenue collections that are passed-thru to counties, school districts, etc.

Hope that helps.


Todd Graham

--
Find Open Twin Cities at http://opentwincities.org
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