Cumberland Kiwanis
Minutes of November 16, 2009
Speaker: Jeff French, Interim Barron County
Administrator
Topic: State of the Economy in Wisconsin
Mr. French, formerly finance
director for the County, is serving as Interim County Administrator, and is a
candidate for the permanent position.
His talk focused on the outcomes of a study of the State economy by the
Policy Research Institute.
The study found serious
problems with out-migration of people and jobs. Moreover, the persons leaving tended to have higher incomes,
and the in-migration was heavily low income, placing a heavy burden on Medicaid
and other assistance programs.
Today, Wisconsin has the third worst migration pattern in the country.
Per capita incomes lag $2500
below the national average, with $36,000 versus $41,000 in Minnesota and
Illinois. Wisconsin ranks 43rd
in economic competitiveness.
Based on a successful program
in Iowa, Wisconsin needs to do the following:
1. Cluster like businesses in
one location
2. Initiate a strong
marketing program
3. Match college career
programs to State needs
3. Create a clear State
economic plan
Without action, the State
will continue to decline and will soon match Alabama. The State has run deficits the last five years and is
carrying a high debt load.
A number of questions were
asked relating to property taxes and County spending.