Five years after Act 10, Governor Scott Walker shared the positive outcomes of the controversial budget repair bill Wednesday in Green Bay. However, not everyone believes Act 10 has done good in the state.
Governor Walker spoke at Green Bay City Hall about the economic impact the bill has had, saying the unemployment rate in Brown County dropped from 7% to 3.7% over the last five years. In addition, nearly 10,000 new jobs have been added in the area, he said.
"It's had a positive impact on budgets, a positive impact on keeping property taxes down," Walker said.
He also said it's helped municipalities save money.
Nonetheless, Act 10 has had negative effects. On top of the issues it caused for public employees, it has also caused political divisions, according to UW-Green Bay Political Science professor Michael Kraft.
"Even five years after the Act 10 controversy, the state is deeply divided politically, which it was not before," Kraft explained.
Educators suffered as well, both in the University of Wisconsin system and public schools, according to Kraft.
"Most University faculty and staff are about 20% below a competitive pay level," Kraft said.
It also forced professors and teachers to retire early, or seek jobs in other states, Kraft explained.
The verdict is still out on whether or not Act 10 is a net plus for the state, according to Kraft.
