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OVERVIEW |
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Economic
concerns hold the attention of most Wisconsin residents and there are
signs that these concerns may affect respondents’ satisfaction with the
quality of their lives.
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THE MOOD |
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Indicators
suggest that the mood here in Wisconsin may be slipping. Respondents are
more pessimistic about how things are going locally, and they are more
inclined to believe that things will remain the same for them personally
(41%, up from 31%) than they were a year ago and less likely to expect
better times ahead (42%, down from 48%).
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HOME-OWNERSHIP |
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Satisfaction with the cost of owning or renting a home remains
statistically stable at 78% to 79% positive. About one person in four
says that access to more affordable housing would improve their quality
of life a great deal.
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EDUCATION |
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State
residents express more satisfaction with the quality of public schools
in their area (76% up from 63%) and with the services they get for their
public education dollars (66% up from 57%).
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ECONOMY |
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Two of the
most dominant indicators of the state of the economy are jobs and the
cost of living. Respondents have serious concerns about both. One person
in three expects the state’s economy to worsen over the next year.
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PERSONAL
SAFETY |
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Fifty-six
percent of respondents report being very satisfied with their sense of
personal safety in their communities, down from 67% six months ago.
Overall satisfaction continues to be very high (93%). Moreover, the vast
majority (84%) expect the safety of their communities to get better or
remain the same.
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TAXES |
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Respondents’ satisfaction with current taxes has been consistent for the
past 18 months.
Respondents
are more satisfied with the amount they pay for public education at 63%,
up from 57% a year ago, but only one person in five would choose to
continue to use property taxes as the primary funding tool for public
education.
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PUBLIC
SERVICES |
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State
residents continue to be very satisfied with the quality of basic
services they receive for their tax dollars. The vast majority of
respondents either expect the quality of police and fire protection to
remain the same (63%) or get better (21%) in the future.
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HEALTH
CARE |
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Previous
surveys have identified costs as the major issue related to health care,
and current data indicate a growing problem. Only one person in three
(36%) expresses satisfaction with the amount they pay for health care.
That’s down from 49% six months ago. A majority of state residents think
that more affordable health care would improve their quality of life a
great deal. Almost half say that better access to quality health care
would enhance their quality of life a great deal.
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THE FUTURE |
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On three
indicators, Wisconsin residents are pessimistic about the future. Eight
out of ten respondents think that health care costs will worsen in the
future, 40% expect the job situation to worsen, and one in three thinks
the state’s economic situation will worsen.
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