 |
Citizen Attitudes Toward Taxes
|
| Question Number | Column Number |
Variable Name | Variable Label | Question Text | Values/Value Labels |
| 81-84 | Identification Number. | ||||
| Q16 | 85 | TYSTTDEF | Definition of income for state income tax. | Some say that the income tax would be fairer if the money employers pay for such things as medical insurance and life insurance were included as taxable income for each employee. Others disagree. Do you think this money should or should not be counted as income earned by the worker. | 1. Should 2. Should not 3. Depends 7. Don't know 9. Not ascertained |
| Q17 | 86 | TYSTTDED | Deductions for state income tax. | Michigan's income tax forms do not use standard or itemized deductions against income. instead their gross income is taxed. Taxpayers with large amounts of itemized deductions would pay more, others would pay less, which way do you prefer... | 1. Michigan 2. Wisconsin 3. No preference 4. Depends 7. Don't know 9. Not ascertained |
| Q18 | 87 | TYPROG | Income tax progressivity. | Some people favor a single rate of tax on all income. Others prefer a system in which people with higher incomes pay a higher rate of tax. Which do you prefer for Wisconsin? | 1. Single rate 2. Higher incomes pay higher rates 7. Don't know 9. Not ascertained |
| Q19 | 88 | TYINDEX | Indication of incomes. | In recent years, inflation has pushed a lot of people into higher income tax brackets without increasing their purchasing power. Do you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose changes in the law to make income taxes depend on purchasing power? | 1. Strongly favor 2. Favor 3. Oppose 4. Strongly oppose 5. Depends 7. Don't know 9. Not ascertained |
| Q20 | 89 | TDESIUGN | Preferences concerning design of tax system. | Which type of tax change should have highest priority. Making taxes simpler, making taxes more fair, or making taxes depend on purchasing power? | 1. Simpler 2. Fair 3. Depend on purchasing power 4. Depends 7. Don't know 9. Not ascertained |
| Q21 | 90 | OWNHOME | Own home. | Turning to the property tax. Do you either own or are you buying your home, are you renting, or what. | 0. Other (MOC) (Code 8 in Cols. 91-115) 1. Own 2. Buying 3. Rent (Code 8 in Cols. 91-115) 4. Live with relatives (Code 8 in Cols. 91-115) 5. House provided with job (Code 8 in Cols. 91-115) 6. Own mobile home, rent land 9. Not ascertained |
| Q21A | 91 | TPPPAYNA | First question on manner of property tax payment. | Did you pay your 1977 property taxes as part of the mortgage payment | 1. yes (Code 8 in Cols. 92-93) 2. No 8. Inap, other, rent, live with relative, house provided to Q21 9. Not ascertained |
| Q21B | 92 | TPPAYMB | Second question. | Did you pay your 1977 property taxes in one payment, in two installments, or what. | 0. Other (MOC) 1. One payment 2. Two installments 3. Monthly payments 4. 3 installments 5. 4-6 installments 6. 10 installments-1 payment each month for 10 months 7. Just moved in, so haven't paid any yet 8. Inap, other, rent, living with relative, house provided to Q21 9. Not ascertained |
| Q21C | 93 | TPPPAYMC | Third question. | Would you prefer to pay part of it every month. | 0. Other (MOC) 1. Yes 2. No 7. Don't know 8. Inap., other, rent, living with relative, house provided to Q21, Yes to Q21A 9. Not ascertained |
| Q21D | 94 | TPPPAYMD | Fourth question. | Have you ever had a property tax payment due and you didn't have the money on hand to pay it. | 1. Yes 2. No (Code 8 in Col. 95) 8. Inap., other, rent, living with relative, house provided to Q21 9. Not ascertained |
| Q21E | 95 | TPPPAYME | Fifth question. | What did you do then. | 0. Other (MOC) 1. Borrowed the money (all sources) 2. Paid in installments 3. Deferred payment to later date (paid interest, penalty, fine) 4. Foreclosure 7. Don't know 8. Inap., other, rent, living with relative, house provided to Q21, no to Q21D 9. Not ascertained |
| Q22 | 96-99 | MKTVALUE | Value of home if sold on market. | About how much would your residence bring if it were sold this year. | Coded by number of hundreds of dollars. 0010. $1,000-$1,099 0011. $1,100-$1,199 etc. 0100. $10,000-$10,099 etc. 0500. $50,000-$50,099 etc. 6999. $699,900 or more 7777. Don't know 8888. Inap., other, rent, living with relative,house provided to Q21 9999. Not ascertained |
| Q23 | 100-103 | ASSVALUE | Assessed value of home. | Property taxes are based on a value established by your local assessor. What is the assessed value of your residence. | Coded by number of hundreds of dollars. 0010. $1,000-$1,099 0011. $1,100-$1,199 etc. 0100. $10,000-$10,099 etc. 0500. $50,000-$50,099 etc. 6999. $699,900 or more 7777. Don't know 8888. Inap., other, rent, living with relative,house provided to Q21 9999. Not ascertained |
| Q24 | 104 | ASSMTLV | Assessment level of property relative to neighborhood. | In relation to assessments of homes in your neighborhood, is your property currently assessed high, about right, or low. | 1. High 2. Right 3. Low 7. Don't know 8. Inap., other, rent, live with relative, house provided to Q21 9. Not ascertained |
| Q25 | 105 | ASSPEALA | First question on appeal procedure for assessment. | Have you ever appealed for a lower assessment. | 1. Yes (code 8 in Cols. 108-110) 2. No (code 8 in Cols. 106-107) 8. Inap., other, rent, live with relative, house provided to Q21) 9. Not ascertained |
| Q25A | 106 | ASSPEALB | Second question. | Did you receive a fair hearing. | 1. Yes (code 8 in Col.107) 2. No 8. Inap., no to Q25, other, rent, live with relative, house provided to Q21) 9. No ascertained |
| Q25B | 107 | ASSPEALC | Third question. | Why was that. | 0. Other (MOC) 1. Hearing hadn't come up yet 2. Village board, town council is biased, doesn't like being contested 6. No change was made 7. Vague-not a fair hearing 8. Inap., no to Q25, other, rent, live with relative, house provided to Q21, yes to Q25A 9. Not ascertained |
| Q25C | 108 | ASSPEALD | Fourth question. | Does your assessment deserve consideration for an appeal. | 1. Yes 2. No (code 8 in Cols. 109-110) 7. Don't know 8. Yes to Q25, other, rent, live with relataive, house provided to Q21 9. Not ascertained |
| Q25D | 109-110 | ASSPEALE | Fifth question. | Do you know how to make an appeal and -- if so -- why have you not appealed. | 00. Other (MOC) How to Make Appeal 11. Go to town board 12. Go to board of review Reasons Why No Appeal 21. Short time allowed 22. Useless to appeal 23. General reassessment underway 24. No time, too busy, spouse too busy, haven't bothered, haven't gotten around to it, too much trouble, hassle 25. Haven't decided whether or not to appeal yet 26. Just purchased, just received notice 69. No 77. Don't know 88. Inap., yet to Q25, no to Q25C, other, rent, live with relative, house provided to Q21 99. Not ascertained |
| Q26 | 111 | ASSFAIR | Fairness of property tax assessment. | To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement. 'Property tax assessment in your community is done fairly and accurately.' Do you strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree. | 1. Strongly agree 2. Agree 3. Disagree 4. Strongly disagree 5. Depends 7. Don't know 8. Inap., other, rent, live with relative, house provided to Q21 9. Not ascertained |
| Q27 | 112-113 | TPPPROB1 | Property tax problems. | In addition to everything we've talked about, what other aspects
of the property tax are a real problem for you and your family. 1st response |
00. Other (MOC) Payment Problems 11. Not enough of flexibility in payments 12. Bad timing (right before/after Christmas), more notice of taxes due 13. Just getting the money to pay the property tax-making the payments 14. People on fixed income have trouble paying, need consideration Assessment Problems 21. System too complicated, R doesn't understand 22. Type of property deserves break -- e.g., marshland, farmland, center city 23. Use of land different than assessment basis, e.g., land farmed-not being developed, land not farmed but being taxed as farmland 24. Specific mention of woodland, forestry laws 25. People are penalized for upgrading their home with higher assessments 26. Assessment is not equitable Cost of Services Reasons 41. School cost shouldn't be financed by property tax, school cost is too high for service received 42. Elderly shouldn't pay school tax, elderly should pay less 43. Welfare costs too high 44. Other municipal services too expensive 45. Spending is inefficient, uncontrolled 46. We get few services in return for taxes paid, poor return for the dollar 51. Property taxes are too high 52. Taxes (general) are too high 53. Inflation-related reasons -- no stability to tax level 69. Nothing 77. Don't know 88. Inap., other, rent, live with relative, house provided to Q21 99. Not ascertained |
| Q27 | 114-115 | TPPPROB2 | Property tax problems. | In addition to everything we've talked about, what other aspects
of the property tax are a real problem for you and your family. 2nd response |
00. Other (MOC) Payment Problems 11. Not enough of flexibility in payments 12. Bad timing (right before/after Christmas), more notice of taxes due 13. Just getting the money to pay the property tax-making the payments 14. People on fixed income have trouble paying, need consideration Assessment Problems 21. System too complicated, R doesn't understand 22. Type of property deserves break -- e.g., marshland, farmland, center city 23. Use of land different than assessment basis, e.g., land farmed-not being developed, land not farmed but being taxed as farmland 24. Specific mention of woodland, forestry laws 25. People are penalized for upgrading their home with higher assessments 26. Assessment is not equitable Cost of Services Reasons 41. School cost shouldn't be financed by property tax, school cost is too high for service received 42. Elderly shouldn't pay school tax, elderly should pay less 43. Welfare costs too high 44. Other municipal services too expensive 45. Spending is inefficient, uncontrolled 46. We get few services in return for taxes paid, poor return for the dollar 51. Property taxes are too high 52. Taxes (general) are too high 53. Inflation-related reasons -- no stability to tax level 69. Nothing 77. Don't know 88. Inap., other, rent, live with relative, house provided to Q21 99. Not ascertained |
| Q28A | 116 | TPPXMPTA | Property tax exemptions for churches. | The state makes payments on its tax-exempt property to local governments for services like fire and police protection. For each of the following types of tax-exempt properties, please tell me if you feel each should or should not be required to make such payments: Churches. | 1. Should 2. Should not 3. Depends 7. Don't know 9. Not ascertained |
| Q28B | 117 | TPPXMPTB | Property tax exemptions for fraternal organizations. | The state makes payments on its tax-exempt property to local governments for services like fire and police protection. For each of the following types of tax-exempt properties, please tell me if you feel each should or should not be required to make such payments: Fraternal organizations...lodges like the Elks, Moose, and so on. | 1. Should 2. Should not 3. Depends 7. Don't know 9. Not ascertained |
| Q28C | 118 | TPPXMPTC | Property tax exemptions for hospitals. | The state makes payments on its tax-exempt property to local governments for services like fire and police protection. For each of the following types of tax-exempt properties, please tell me if you feel each should or should not be required to make such payments: Hospitals. | 1. Should 2. Should not 3. Depends 7. Don't know 9. Not ascertained |
| Q29 | 119 | TPPAGED | Property tax payment difficulties for retired. | Occasionally you will hear about older people who are having trouble paying property taxes on their homes out of a retirement income. Do you feel this happens a lot, to some degree, or quite rarely. | 1. Lot 2. Some degree 3. Rarely 7. Don't know 9. Not ascertained |
| Q30 | 120-121 | TPPHELP1 | Property tax help for the retired. | When it does happen, do you think these older people should
have to move to a less expensive house, take out a mortgage,
or what. 1st response |
00. Other (MOC) 01. They should have some kind of help, NFS People-related 11. Less expensive house/apartment 12. Mortgage 13. Move to a retirement center 14. They should protest, not pay taxes 15. They should be allowed to stay in their home (doesn't say how) 16. Families should help, let them move in Assistance from Government 21. Federal government should help 22.State government should help 23. Local government should help 24. Government should help, not ascertained which government 25. Homestead tax credit should be expanded, tax credit 26. Government should make loans 27. Government should build houses 28. Raise social security Specific Exemptions 41. Allow tax exemptions, social security recipients should be exempt from taxes 42. There should be special tax breaks, tax benefit, tax relief, some kind of tax adjustment 43. Ceiling on property tax, maximum mill rate, lower property tax 44. Elderly shouldn't have to pay school tax 45. Make it easier for them to pay, NFS 46. Tax aid, according to ability to pay, welfare assistance to needy 77. Don't know 99. Not ascertained |
| Q30 | 122-123 | TPPHELP2 | Property tax help for the retired. | When it does happen, do you think these older people should
have to move to a less expensive house, take out a mortgage,
or what. 2nd response |
00. Other (MOC) 01. They should have some kind of help, NFS People-related 11. Less expensive house/apartment 12. Mortgage 13. Move to a retirement center 14. They should protest, not pay taxes 15. They should be allowed to stay in their home (doesn't say how) 16. Families should help, let them move in Assistance from Government 21. Federal government should help 22.State government should help 23. Local government should help 24. Government should help, not ascertained which government 25. Homestead tax credit should be expanded, tax credit 26. Government should make loans 27. Government should build houses 28. Raise social security Specific Exemptions 41. Allow tax exemptions, social security recipients should be exempt from taxes 42. There should be special tax breaks, tax benefit, tax relief, some kind of tax adjustment 43. Ceiling on property tax, maximum mill rate, lower property tax 44. Elderly shouldn't have to pay school tax 45. Make it easier for them to pay, NFS 46. Tax aid, according to ability to pay, welfare assistance to needy 77. Don't know 99. Not ascertained |
| Q31 | 124 | HCRKNOW | Awareness of homestead credit program. | Wisconsin has homestead credit program. This program allows families currently with total incomes of $9,300 or less to get a refund of a part of their property taxes, or rent paid. Have you heard anything about this program. | 1. Yes 2. No 7. Don't know 9. Not ascertained |
| Q32 | 125 | HCRELIG | Preferences concerning eligibility program. |
One family out of six qualifies for homestead credit. Families not eligible for the program pay higher state taxes to make this refund possible. Do you feel the number of families now eligible for homestead credit should be greater, it about right, or that fewer families should be eligible. | 1. Greater 2. Right 3. Fewer 4. Depends 7. Don't know 9. Not ascertained |
| Q33 | 126 | NCRBEN | Preferences concerning homestead credit benefits. | Annual benefits under homestead credit average about $300 per eligible family. Do you think this is too high, about right, or too low. | 1. High (code 8 in Col. 127) 2. Right (code 8 in Col. 127) 3. Low (code 8 in Col. 127) 4. Depends 7. Don't know (code 8 in Col. 127) 9. Not ascertained |
| Q33A | 127 | HCRWHO | Who should receive the benefits. | On what does it depend. | 0. Other (MOC) 1. Where you live-too low in urban areas 2. The family's needs, income in relation to needs 3. Amount of income or type of income, special treatment for some income types (e.g., pension or welfare) 8. Inap., high, right, low, don't know to Q33 9. Not ascertained |
| Q34 | 128 | HCRFAM | Should family size determine benefits. | Would you favor or oppose changing the homestead credit program
so that the larger the family, the greater the benefits received. |
1. Favor 2. Oppose 7. Don't know 9. Not ascertained |
| Q35 | 129 | TCOLLECT | Changes in tax collection. | We have been talking about property taxes and individual state income taxes, would you like to see a change in any of the other types of taxes collected by the state. | 1. Yes 2. No (code 8 in Cols. 130-133) 7. Don't know (code 8 in Cols. 130-133) 9. Not ascertained |
| Q35A | 130-131 | TCHANGE | What changes do you have in mind. | What changes in tax collections. 1st response |
00. Other (MOC) 01. Lower all taxes Sales Tax Changes 11. Lower sales tax rate 12. Eliminate tax on selected items (clothes or cars) 13. Eliminate sales tax 14. Raise alcohol, tobacco taxes 15. Lower alcohol, tobacco taxes 16. Raise sales tax 17. Raise tax on luxuries/make sales tax progressive Auto, Fuel Taxes 21. Lower gasoline tax 22. Tax road use with tollroads 23. Higher vehicle registration fees-by weight value or gas consumption 24. Increase gasoline tax/divert to mass transit 25. Vehicle and fuel taxes - other responses, direction unclear 26. Lower vehicle and fuel taxes 31. Eliminate inheritance tax, 32. Change, lower inheritance tax, gift tax, probate reform 34. Raise user fees 35. Lower user fees, other 41. Lower taxes on business 42. Raise taxes on business Income Tax Reasons 51. Lower capital gains taxes 52. Increase progression-tax according to ability 53. Raise income tax 54. Lower income tax Property Tax Reasons 61. Lower property tax 62. Lower school taxes 63. Other 76. Too many different kinds of tax 77. Don't know 88. Inap., no, don't know toQ35 99. Not ascertained |
| Q35A | 132-133 | TCHANGE2 | What changes do you have in mind. | What changes in tax collections. 2nd response |
00. Other (MOC) 01. Lower all taxes Sales Tax Changes 11. Lower sales tax rate 12. Eliminate tax on selected items (clothes or cars) 13. Eliminate sales tax 14. Raise alcohol, tobacco taxes 15. Lower alcohol, tobacco taxes 16. Raise sales tax 17. Raise tax on luxuries/make sales tax progressive Auto, Fuel Taxes 21. Lower gasoline tax 22. tax road use with tollroads 23. Higher vehicle registration fees-by weight value or gas consumption 24. Increase gasoline tax/divert to mass transit 25. Vehicle and fuel taxes - other responses, direction unclear 26. Lower vehicle and fuel taxes 31. Eliminate inheritance tax, 32. Change, lower inheritance tax, gift tax, probate reform 34. Raise user fees 35. Lower user fees, other 41. Lower taxes on business 42. Raise taxes on business Income Tax Reasons 51. Lower capital gains taxes 52. Increase progression-tax according to ability 53. Raise income tax 54. Lower income tax Property Tax Reasons 61. Lower property tax 62. Lower school taxes 63. Other 76. Too many different kinds of tax 77. Don't know 88. Inap., no, don't know toQ35 99. Not ascertained |
| Q36 | 134 | TSLVISIT | Change in sales tax to account for tourists. | Wisconsin does not charge a sales tax on food purchased in a grocery store, if it did, more taxes could be collected from out-of-state visitors. The taxes paid on groceries by residents would be returned through tax credits at income tax time. Would you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose this idea. | 1. Strongly favor 2. Favor 3. Oppose 4. Strongly oppose 5. Depends 7. Don't know 9. Not ascertained |
| 135 | Cover sheet data | Number of people for respondent selection. | 1. 1 2. 2 3. 3 4. 4 5. 5 6. 6 7. 7 8. 8 or more 9. Not ascertained |
||
| 136 | Cover sheet data | Sex of respondent selection. | 1. Male 2. Female |
||
| 137 | Cover sheet data | Selection table. | 1. 1 2. 2 3. 3 or more |
||
| 138 | Cover sheet data | Record of calls (number of calls). | 1. 1 2. 2 3. 3 4. 4 5. 5 6. 6 7. 7 8. 8 |
||
| 139-155 | BLANK | ||||
| 156 | Card Number | 2. (Constant) | |||
| 157-160 | Project Number | 1121. (Constant) |
Go to Main WisTax Archive Page.
Email: disc@mailplus.wisc.edu
©2009 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.
If you have trouble accessing this page, please contact disc@mailplus.wisc.edu.