Wisconsin voters overwhelmingly back returning hard-earned tax dollars to families through rebates and property tax cuts, a new Marquette Law School Poll released Tuesday shows, even as a bipartisan surplus relief bill collapsed in the Senate amid fiscal warnings.
The survey found 80% of Wisconsin adults believe the Legislature should have passed the $1.8 billion measure announced May 11 by Gov. Tony Evers and Republican leaders. Support crossed party lines, with 77% of Republicans, 81% of independents and 82% of Democrats favoring the package. Even after the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau projected it could contribute to a nearly $3 billion deficit, 69% still supported immediate passage.
The bill, which cleared the Assembly but failed in the Senate on an 18-15 vote, included $300 rebate checks for individuals and $600 for couples, a 5% cut in school property taxes, additional special education funding, and exemptions from taxes on tips and overtime pay. Proponents argued it delivered direct relief to working families squeezed by years of rising costs under Democratic priorities in Madison and Washington.
The poll underscores growing frustration with government hoarding of surplus revenue while property taxes climb. Wisconsin homeowners have faced steep increases, fueling demands for restraint. The Marquette results signal voters prioritize immediate tax relief over expansive new spending, a message likely to echo in November’s elections. Twenty-five percent called candidates’ positions on the bill “very important” to their vote.
Critics of the failed deal, including some Senate Republicans who joined Democrats in opposition, cited long-term budget risks. Yet the poll reveals broad skepticism toward such caution when relief is on the table. Fiscal conservatives have long warned that surpluses too often become excuses for permanent spending hikes rather than one-time returns to citizens.
Marquette Poll Director Charles Franklin said the findings highlight persistent tension between tax relief and school funding debates. With the state’s projected surplus once topping $4 billion in recent cycles, the public’s clear preference for returning dollars directly challenges leaders who favor letting revenue accumulate or flow into new programs.
