Reports by issue topic
Economic Development
Sound economic development policy is key to increasing personal wealth, stabilizing local government budgets and enhancing the region’s quality of life. The Public Policy Forum has made a commitment to continuing its analysis and research of the interrelationships between development and those outcomes. To do so, the Forum will build upon the in-depth analysis it has already done on such issues as workplace diversity, workforce development, transportation, housing, land use, tax increment financing, local government economic development policy, income migration, and federal funding.
| Budget Preview: 2011 Milwaukee County Budget |
July, 2010 |
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| full report |
| For the past several years, the Public Policy Forum has produced reports analyzing the Milwaukee County executive's recommended budget shortly after its introduction in late September. This year, we add a new research product to our analysis of Milwaukee County's fiscal condition: a budget preview report that analyzes the county's immediate fiscal challenges at the onset of its budget process.
The 2011 Milwaukee County Budget Preview not only provides perspective on the specific fiscal issues facing the county as it begins to assemble next year's budget, but also explores the consequences associated with the county's persistent budget gap. It finds that while the 2011 projected deficit of $44.9 million is considerably smaller than that faced by budget officials at a similar juncture last year, it is sizable nonetheless. Furthermore, the report illustrates how several successive years of budget-cutting have left the county with few easy options for 2011. |
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| Property Values and Taxes in Southeast Wisconsin |
July, 2010 |
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| full report |
| For the past several years, the Public Policy Forum has produced annual reports analyzing property values and property taxes within the seven-county southeast Wisconsin region. Our purpose is to shed light on an important indicator of regional economic health and how it impacts the fiscal health and capacity of local governments and school districts.
This year’s report first examines 2009 property values, with specific consideration of multi-year trends. We then analyze 2010 budgeted tax levies and tax rates of southeast Wisconsin counties and municipalities to explore the relationship between valuations and taxes.
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| Main Street Milwaukee: Program at a crossroads |
July, 2010 |
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| full report |
| The Main Street Milwaukee (MSM) Program is a highly touted economic development program designed to promote economic growth and revitalization in selected city neighborhoods. Milwaukee’s Main Street program is a partnership between the City of Milwaukee Department of City Development (DCD) and the local chapter of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), who have tailored the national Main Street program for use in six local districts. Established in 2005, MSM has been cited by city officials as a key component in the city’s overall economic and community development strategy.
This research project, which was launched in September 2009, originally set out to explore the strengths and weaknesses of several MSM districts in an effort to explore why this particular economic development strategy has succeeded or failed in different Milwaukee neighborhoods. Early in the analysis, however, we recognized that sufficient performance data did not exist to adequately assess that question in depth. Our attention turned, therefore, to the broader question of whether, why, and to what extent the MSM program itself has succeeded in delivering its anticipated results.
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| The People Speak Poll: Region’s residents give transportation infrastructure average grades |
June 25, 2010 |
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| research brief |
| Metro Milwaukee’s drivers and bus riders give the region average grades when it comes to transportation infrastructure. The condition of the region’s freeways gets the highest grade, a C+, while local streets and roads garner a
C-. The findings come from the latest People Speak poll of 386 residents in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington and Ozaukee counties conducted in early June.
Ozaukee County residents give the most generous grades, while Waukesha County residents give the lowest. The broadest range of grades is given to local bus service, which rates Cs among Ozaukee and Milwaukee residents, but Ds among Washington and Waukesha residents. Survey respondents who ride the bus at least occasionally give their local bus service a higher grade than those who say they drive their car every day. Freeways rate highest among Ozaukee County residents and those respondents who work outside the home (commuters).
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| Assessing the workforce development needs of healthcare employers in Southeastern Wisconsin |
April 29, 2010 |
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| research brief |
| Despite the region's high unemployment rates, a recent survey of health care employers in Southeast Wisconsin indicates that a limited supply of qualified healthcare workers is harming efforts to fill current job openings. Respondents say applicant quality (60.7%) and retaining qualified workers (30.2%) are the biggest challenges they face in meeting their organizations' workforce needs. Gaps in applicants' basic skills, especially soft skills such as professionalism, team skills and verbal communication, also make it harder for healthcare employers to recruit and hire competent job candidates.
The recent survey of 28 healthcare facilities included the four largest hospital systems in southeast Wisconsin, as well as nursing and residential care facilities such as doctors' offices and diagnostics labs.
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| Pursuing Innovation: Benchmarking Milwaukee's Transition to a Knowledge-based Economy |
March, 2010 |
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| full report |
| While the Milwaukee region's economic base is rooted in its manufacturing history, many believe that the region's future prosperity will be tied to its ability to successfully transition its economy into one that is based on knowledge and innovation. The Innovation Index presents baseline data for measures that have been closely linked to the 21st century economy: idea development and commercialization; entrepreneurship; and the availability of knowledgeable and skilled workers.
The Milwaukee region's transition to the knowledge-based economy may best be described as a work in progress. With regard to innovation inputs, many regional trends are positive, including growing university research and development spending, higher educational attainment levels, more jobs created by small firms, and more Small Business Innovation Research-Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR-STTR) awards. Far less promising, however, are the region's negative or flat trends in patent activity, number of scientists and engineers, and knowledge workers per capita.
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| The People Speak Poll: Tolls roads, rail find support across region |
November 17, 2009 |
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| research brief |
| At least 50% of residents in three of four metro Milwaukee counties say they are in favor of toll roads to fund transportation improvements, while an increase in the gas tax was favored by less than a quarter of residents in each county. High speed rail to Chicago and Madison is supported by majorities in three counties as well. Commuter rail was strongly supported in Milwaukee County.
The People Speak poll surveyed 433 residents of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington, and Ozaukee Counties regarding their views on the economy, issues of importance to the region, and topical public policy issues. In general, the region's residents report optimism about the direction in which their neighborhoods and municipalities are headed, yet seem open to possible governance changes such as a regional parks authority. In addition, there is some support for new revenue streams such as user fees, provided that they reduce reliance on property taxes. |
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| The People Speak Poll: Milwaukee area citizens hurting, but optimistic about the future |
October, 2009 |
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| full report |
| Milwaukee area citizens are optimistic about their financial futures, yet a sizeable portion report having experienced financial difficulties in the past six months. The People Speak telephone survey of 433 residents of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington, and Ozaukee Counties reveals that a third of the area's citizens have had problems paying their bills at some time during the past six months. Of those experiencing such problems, however, 59% report being somewhat or very optimistic about their financial future. Among the entire survey sample, 64% were optimistic about their financial future.
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| Public Schooling in Southeastern Wisconsin |
September, 2009 |
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| full report |
| For the 23rd consecutive year, the Public Policy Forum has compiled and analyzed data from Southeastern Wisconsin's school districts in order to better inform policymakers and the public about progress-or lack thereof-on commonly utilized measures of academic achievement. This year's analysis of the 2008-09 academic year indicates cause for encouragement in some areas, but also cause for significant concern.
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| 2008-2009 Southeastern Wisconsin School District Performance (pull-out poster) |
September, 2009 |
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| full report |
| Pull-out poster providing Southeastern Wisconsin school performance in an easily readable format. Performance of the K-12 school districts includes enrollment, district finances, student participation and student performance measures. |
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