Lake Country This Month

By Alison Fox Freeman Staff PEWAUKEE — Wisconsin Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch and Revenue Secre- tary Rick Chandler held a Tax Reform Roundtable last month and the majority of attendees agreed that Wis- consin taxes are too high. "There has been several key takeaways from these meetings — that taxes are too darn high," Kleefisch said. "We knew that, and that's why we're doing this." The meeting was held at VJS Construction Services, Inc. and nearly 20 leaders in construction and commercial real estate industries were present to express their con- cerns with state taxes as well as give suggestions for the 2015-17 budget. Kleefisch asked the group three questions that she described as the "Goldilocks" method — Do you think taxes are too high, two low or just right? Almost all hands in the room were raised when asked if taxes are too high. At the request of Governor Scott Walker, Kleefisch has been traveling around Wis- consin and hosting meetings to talk one-on-one with differ- ent types of taxpayers. The meetings are meant to help develop ideas for the next budget that will meet the expectations of Wisconsin residents. "This is why we are here," Kleefisch said. "We want to reform taxes until people are happy." One major concern raised at the meeting was the high percentage of property taxes on both homeowners and businesses. Many believed the tax is potentially hinder- ing job creation in Wiscon- sin, therefore hindering the state's overall workforce and economy. Jim Barry, president of Cassidy Turly, a commercial real estate service company, said people and businesses may avoid moving to Wiscon- sin when they see how much they would have to pay in property taxes as opposed to other states. "My dad is in his 80s and has the pleasure of spending half the year in Naples," Barry said. "He came to the decision that it would just make more sense to become a Florida resident because of the cost." The majority of those at the meeting agreed about lower- ing property taxes to attract corporations and persuade new college graduates to stay instead of searching for work out of state. Kleefisch said she is not surprised to hear the concern about property taxes. She said outcomes from previous meetings and independent surveys and polls taken by Wisconsin taxpayers showed the same results. "There are common things and threads that have devel- oped, and we are able to see how Wisconsinites are united in some things," Kleefisch said. Kleefisch told the group to imagine the income tax, prop- erty tax, sales tax, and gov- ernment spending tax as four separate dials. She then asked which dials they would prefer to turn up and down. While a couple of attendees said they would prefer gov- ernment spending to be turned down, the majority said they want property and income taxes lowered. A few people also suggested raising sales taxes. Kleefisch also asked if the business owners and repre- sentatives preferred long- term tax rate reductions over firsthand tax exemptions. The majority said yes. Kleefisch said everything she heard at the meeting will be taken into consideration while the new budget is craft- ed. She said she the adminis- tration is working to drive down the tax burden in the state, and one way to do this may be through income and property tax relief. taxreform.wi.gov Email: afox@conleynet.com 236555028 DOCTORS' Denture SYSTEMS Dr. Mark J. Kneepkens and his in-house lab have made over 18,000 dentures. 601 N. Grand Avenue Waukesha 262-542-6170 $ 100 OFF ANY NEW Denture or Partial* FREE CONSULTATION *must present coupon before treatment. One coupon per patient. 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They, along with area children, also had the fun of sticking their hands in a wet cement block for the site. Construction of the two-story, 30,000-square-foot building at 3195 Hillside Dr. began in April. The opening date is anticipated for November. The clinic will offer sports medicine services, including a two- story gym for young athletes who are trying to get back on the field or court. There will also be a hydrotherapy pool for additional physical and sports medicine thera- pies. The clinic will cover asthma and allergies, cardiology, dermatolo- gy, gastroenterology, speech and audiology, urology care and primary care. Aimee Amini said her whole fami- ly is excited to have the clinic open so close to home, especially with her husband Shan running a youth soc- cer club in Waukesha. "They are not going to wait because it's so far away," Aimee Amini said of student athletes who get injured. Having the clinic open in Delafield means Gunnar Peterson won't have to miss a whole day of school to see a doctor. His mother Melissa said she first started taking her son to Chil- dren's Hospital when her two favorite pediatricians moved their practice. With the Oconomowoc fam- ily still trying to get a handle on Gunnar's allergies, it will be much more convenient for them to use the Delafield clinic. "He will not have to take off a whole day of school, just the length of the appointment, which is impor- tant," Melissa Peterson said. Wearing a large white hard hat, 6- year-old Gunnar was having fun at the ceremony. "(It was) a little bit good and a lit- tle bit dirty," he said of putting his hand on the cement. Delafield Mayor Michele DeYoe said the city is happy to have the clinic located within its boundaries. "It will make a tremendous differ- ence in the quality of life for citizens in Delafield and the region," she said. Peggy Troy, CEO of Children's Hospital, said the organization is committed to Waukesha County and wants to bring "care closer to home." "Delafield was clearly the place we wanted to be," she said. Charles Auer/Freeman Staff Handprints cover a concrete block following a ceremony at the new Chil- dren's Hospital of Wisconsin facility in Delafield. Charles Auer/Freeman Staff Delafield Mayor Michele DeYoe, left, and Kaylee Dufay of Wales make hand- prints in a concrete block Tuesday during a ceremony for the new Children's Hospital of Wisconsin facility in Delafield. Health care closer to home in Delafield Kids participate in ceremony at clinic site Rebecca Kleefisch: 'Taxes are too darn high' Charles Auer/Freeman Staff Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, left, and Revenue Secretary Rick Chandler participate in a tax reform roundtable.

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