Editorial: Economy, jobs must be our top priority
Source: Green Bay Press-Gazette

GREEN BAY, WI — August 30, 2003  — A new survey sponsored by the Wisconsin Realtors Association finds that state residents are highly satisfied with the quality of their lives despite growing worries about job opportunities and health-care costs.

The phone poll, which was conducted in July by Wood Communications Group and questioned 600 residents, is the first in a series the trade group will commission over the next three years.
The new venture could prove to be a valuable tool in helping shape public policy on behalf of homeowners.

The poll comes at a pivotal time for Wisconsin. The state is grappling with fixing a $3.2 billion budget deficit without raising taxes or cutting essential services. Many people are concerned by the loss of high-paying, skilled manufacturing jobs. Yet most respondents are highly satisfied with their homes, schools, public services and parks. But they are worried about work issues.

 

	•	Most consider job opportunities now to be fair to poor for everybody. The worst outlooks involved recent high school grads (73 percent didn’t think they had much of a shot) and 40-something skilled workers on layoff (81 percent saw them as staying jobless).
	•	52 percent said the economy has affected their employers for the worse, and 35 percent expect more degeneration in the next six months. Only 58 percent are satisfied with their pay.
	•	Only one in two rated their own job opportunities as good, and 31 percent expressed a bright job outlook for their children.

Despite the gloom about the economy, people were surprisingly upbeat: 79 percent were happy with their house or apartment, and 74 percent applaud their community’s direction. The Green Bay-Appleton market showed the highest optimism in the state, with 79 percent saying their community was on the right track. Statewide, respondents were equally divided on how to deal with Wisconsin’s budget crunch: 38 percent advocated tax increases to maintain services, while 38 percent urged service cuts to avoid property-tax increases. The rest either favored neither option or didn’t take a stand. The information shows that people recognize the need to fix problems as long as we don’t mess with success.

Consider this: Wisconsin students were No. 1 in the nation in ACT scores, a testament to the priority we put on education. Yet, while 50 percent are dissatisfied with the amount they pay in property taxes, 60 percent said they would oppose a tax freeze if it meant cutting education. The survey information indicates state residents have deep connections to Northeastern Wisconsin and have a strong sense of service to the community. The survey should be used to help identify priorities as officials make tough decisions about Wisconsin’s future.