Wisconsinites Say Best and Brightest Leave State

Polls also find statewide frustration, lack of trust in government

(August 31, 2010) – As Wisconsinites prepare to celebrate Labor Day, new polls provide insight into public perceptions about a Wisconsin brain drain.

Over six in ten Wisconsinites statewide (62 percent) think the best and brightest leave Wisconsin to work in other states, according to the most comprehensive public polls ever of Wisconsinites’ policy attitudes and concerns. The polls are part of Refocus Wisconsin, an in-depth, multifaceted study of long-term economic, education, and quality-of-life trends.

An initial Refocus Wisconsin poll, commissioned by the study’s sponsor, the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, was conducted between May 27 and June 10. It included 2,508 respondents statewide. A second poll, conducted in July, included 822 respondents statewide. They are the first ever publicly released state polls to sample cell phones.

“Perhaps the most striking finding in the survey and one that sums up the challenges for Wisconsin and its leaders in the 21st Century is the strong belief that we are losing some of our best citizens. By a margin of well over two to one – 62 percent to 27 percent – a clear majority of Wisconsinites believe the best and brightest leave Wisconsin to work,” said Ken Goldstein, the polls’ director. A majority of Wisconsinites also express widespread dissatisfaction with state government while opinions about quality of life and the inclination to move elsewhere vary depending on whether respondents live in the city of Milwaukee or elsewhere in Wisconsin, the polls conducted in June and July also found.

About four out of ten Wisconsinites (39 percent) believe Wisconsin has a higher quality of life than other states and one in ten (10 percent) of Wisconsinites say we have a lower quality of life than other states. In the city of Milwaukee, meanwhile, only 19 percent say there is a higher quality of life in Wisconsin and 22 percent in the state’s largest city said we have a lower quality of life.

The polls did not focus on political campaigns, but did ask about political affiliation. Of those polled in June, 29 percent describe themselves as Democrats, 33 percent as independents, and 22 percent as Republicans.

Most Wisconsinites have either lived here their entire life (62 percent); moved here with their parents when they were young (9 percent): or grew up here, left for a period of time and returned (13 percent).. Fully two in ten say they are somewhat or very likely to leave in the next three years. Milwaukeeans, again, differ. In Milwaukee, almost twice as many (39 percent) say they are somewhat or very likely to leave the state in the next three years.

While ties to the state are generally deep – pessimism is increasingly apparent. The polls determined, for instance:

• Forty-five percent of Wisconsinites surveyed in June say they are frustrated with state government and another 16 percent say they are angry while 34 percent describe themselves as content. . Levels of frustration and anger were even higher in July.
• Sixty-four percent surveyed in June say they trust government in Madison to do what is right only some of the time or never.
• Only two percent of Wisconsinites think state government is doing an excellent job and 28 percent think it is going a good job.
• Considering what they get from state and local government, 62 percent of Wisconsinites say taxes are too high, while three percent say they are too low and 34 percent say they are about right.
• Much discontent over taxes focuses on the property tax. When asked which tax they would choose to reduce, 52 percent say local property taxes, followed by 30 percent for reducing income taxes and only 14 percent who would reduce state sales taxes.
• Over six in ten (61 percent) Wisconsinites say they believe state government is tied to old ideas and practices while 28 percent describe it as innovative.

“Refocus Wisconsin is an effort to go around the politicians and special interests. The project is an ambitious examination of what is wrong with Wisconsin and what should be done to fix it,” said George Lightbourn, president of WPRI. “The project devoted significant attention to hearing from the citizens. Our polling showed what’s on the mind of people throughout Wisconsin.”

According to the polling, Wisconsinites support reforms, including basic tax and pension changes. For instance:

• Over three-quarters of Wisconsinites (76%) say public sector workers should contribute to their own pensions.
• Fifty-six percent of Madison-area residents say they would support raising the state sales tax by 2 cents, to 7 cents on the dollar, and cutting everybody’s property taxes by 20 percent. Thirty-seven percent of Wisconsinites oppose that.

Statewide, 36 percent say state government needs very major reform and another 52 percent say, while “basically sound,” it needs “some reform,” according to the June survey.

The statewide poll completed in June has a margin of error of 2 percentage points. The margin of error is 4.5 percentage points for sub-group analysis of the Milwaukee area. The margin of error in the July poll was 3.5 percentage points statewide. Data was weighted to the latest US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey estimates for Wisconsin for age and education. In addition, for statewide results, the data were weighted so that each geographic area would correspond to its proper size proportion for the entire state.

In addition to the polls, Refocus Wisconsin will release a series of findings by scholars regarding Wisconsin’s history, economics, schools and government – as well as short documentaries by independent filmmakers – beginning in September. Events will be scheduled around the state to share films and findings. Complete poll results, including cross-tabs, additional information about methodology, and more information about Refocus Wisconsin can be found at www.refocuswisconsin.org .

Goldstein, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has worked on national network election night coverage in every U.S. federal election since 1988. During the 2008 presidential election, he was also the co-founder and director of the Big Ten Battleground Poll.

The Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, established in 1987, is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit think tank working to engage Wisconsinites in discussions and timely action on key public policy issues critical to the state’s future.