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Research 04/13/2022
Flush with Cash: Wisconsin’s Growing Financial Reserves
A new report titled Flush with Cash: Wisconsin’s Growing Financial Reserves released by Forward Analytics shows that the state of Wisconsin’s financial reserves totaled $4.3 billion at the end of fiscal 2021 and is growing. At 22% of annual state spending, reserves are at an all-time high.
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Research 12/15/2021
Slowing Down: Wisconsin’s Waning Population Growth
A new report from Forward Analytics, Slowing Down: Wisconsin’s Waning Population Growth, examines how a state’s demography can significantly impact its economy, its tax base, and the kinds of services state and local governments provide. The most accurate data on population characteristics comes from the decennial census. The recent 2020 census shows Wisconsin’s growth slowing, driven largely by a declining youth population.
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Research 07/13/2021
The Green Book, A Book of County Facts, 4th Edition
Forward Analytics has announced the publication of The Green Book, A Book of County Facts, 4th Edition. This fact book provides a wide range of information on county demographics, finances, employment, new construction, and structure.
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Research 06/08/2021
Rethinking Revenues: A National Perspective on Funding Counties
A new report from Forward Analytics, Rethinking Revenues: A National Perspective on Funding Counties, highlights some of the fiscal challenges faced by Wisconsin’s 72 counties due to a long-term shift in state spending priorities, state budget cuts, strict property tax limits, and few local revenue options — challenges that remain despite an influx of federal assistance.
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Research 01/24/2021
The COVID Economy: The Economic Impacts of COVID-19 in Wisconsin
A new report from Forward Analytics, The COVID Economy: The Economic Impacts of COVID-19 in Wisconsin, examines the economic damage wrought by the pandemic in Wisconsin from March through November 2020.
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Research 11/10/2020
Broadband in Rural Wisconsin: Identifying Gaps, Highlighting Successes
While broadband is nearly universal in Wisconsin cities and villages, there are major disparities in the rural parts of the state, according to a new Forward Analytics report, Broadband in Rural Wisconsin: Identifying Gaps, Highlighting Successes.
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Research 07/22/2020
The Green Book, A Book of County Facts, 3rd Edition
Forward Analytics has announced the publication of The Green Book, A Book of County Facts, 3rd Edition. This fact book provides a wide range of information on county government structure, county population and economies, county finances, development, veterans and school-age populations.
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Research 06/15/2020
Economic Activity in a Pandemic: Wisconsin Taxable Sales in March & April
A new report by Forward Analytics, Economic Activity During a Pandemic: Wisconsin Taxable Sales in March & April, shows the varying impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our state’s economy.
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Research 06/02/2020
Deconstructing Depopulation: Rural Characteristics & Population Change
Forward Analytics has released Deconstructing Depopulation: Rural Characteristics & Population Change. The latest report looks at rural population decline through two lenses: the source of the loss and the county characteristics that are related to population losses and gains. The report is a follow-up to The Rural Challenge: Depopulation and Its Economic Consequences.
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Research 02/06/2020
The Rural Challenge: Depopulation and Its Economic Consequences
A new Forward Analytics report, The Rural Challenge: Depopulation and Its Economic Consequences, found that from 2010-2018, two thirds of rural counties in Wisconsin lost population. That percentage was up from 44% during 2000-10, and in rural counties across the nation, a similar pattern has emerged.
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Research 10/21/2019
“The Birth Dearth: Falling Fertility Rates, Fewer Babies”
“The Birth Dearth: Falling Fertility Rates, Fewer Babies,” shows that, sometime over the next decade, the state could be headed toward a natural decrease in population in Wisconsin, where deaths exceed births.
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Research 07/18/2019
An Economic Evolution: Job Growth, Pay and Education Since 2012
Forward Analytics has released An Economic Evolution: Job Growth, Pay and Education Since 2012. The report shows a growing economy that is evolving into one in which jobs require more education and skills. It also documents an economy in which job growth is not occurring in low paying occupations, but rather in those further up the pay scale.
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Research 07/08/2019
The Green Book, A Book of County Facts, 2nd Edition
Forward Analytics has announced the publication of The Green Book, A Book of County Facts, 2nd Edition. This fact book provides a wide range of information on county government structure, county population and economies, county finances, and development. New this year is information on veterans and school-age populations.
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Research 04/15/2019
Falling Behind: Migration Changes & State Workforce
The Falling Behind: Migration Changes and State Workforce report reveals troubling trends for the future of Wisconsin’s workforce landscape. The report was issued April 15, 2019 by Forward Analytics.
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Research 04/03/2019
Millennial Wisconsin: Is Wisconsin Attractive to This Generation?
For decades, baby boomers drove labor force changes, both nationally and in Wisconsin. Now, as they retire, they are being replaced by millennials, a group that will approach 40% of the workforce over the next few years. The challenge for Wisconsin, and other states, is to attract and retain this group.
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Research 02/04/2019
Here’s Why the Birth Rate Is So Low in the United States
According to a recent report from Healthline, millennials can be blamed for a lot of things. They killed landline phones. They destroyed movie rental stores. They even get flack for the decline in bar soap use. Now they might be getting credit, whether fair or not, for the decline in the birth rate in the United States. Millennials are having… -
Research 12/15/2018
WCA County Officials Statewide Survey
While WCA staff spend significant time getting to know members personally, the association felt a statistical snapshot of county board supervisors could be useful to both WCA, as well as its members. In the spring of 2018, WCA surveyed 1,600 county board supervisors and received 1,100 responses. The response rate of 68.8% was well above the average 30% to 40% rate that is typical for a survey like this.
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Research 09/30/2018
Election Practices & Options
In August 2018, Wisconsin held primaries to select party candidates for the November 2018 general election in the same way it has for more than 100 years. Voters could participate in one party primary and cast a single vote in each race. Candidates receiving the most votes, not necessarily a majority, moved on to the November general election. Wisconsin’s turnout… -
Green Book, Data 02/25/2019
The Green Book
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