When Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker got sworn in back in 2011 he immediately started bashing Minnesota. He suggested people compare the two states. So I did. Starting in 2011 and every year since, I have compared Wisconsin with Minnesota, using only documented figures and rankings, with no spin. Below is this year's data.

Since I am now a Dakota County Commissioner, I have sprinkled in some data specific to Dakota County, too.

TAXES. For 2017, an average family with a median annual income of $54,286 would pay $7,384 in state and local taxes in Wisconsin. The same family would pay $6,291 - or $1,091 less - in Minnesota for state and local taxes. Source: https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-states-to-be-a-taxpayer/2416/.

PROPERTY TAXES. Minnesota residents pay $2,110 in property taxes on a $180,000 home. Wisconsin residents pay $3,499 on the same-priced home. Source: https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-states-to-be-a-taxpayer/2416/. The average household in Dakota County pays $1414 less in property taxes than a family in Wisconsin, and $461 less in property taxes than the Twin Cities metro average.

WAGES. A worker in Wisconsin earns an average annual wage of $43,930. A worker in Minnesota earns an average of 13.2% more, at $49,740. Source: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcst.htm. Dakota County residents earn an average annual wage of $51,532.

JOB GROWTH. Wisconsin businesses added 28,900 jobs in 2016. Private-sector jobs grew 42% faster in Minnesota, with businesses adding 41,200 jobs in 2016. Source: https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/323f046b-3e87-477f-9f96-0d0ac8f1e90f/jec-state-economic-snapshots-january-2017.pdf

BEST STATE FOR BUSINESS. Minnesota ranks as the 4th best state for business. Wisconsin ranks 23rd. Source: http://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/12/americas-top-states-for-business-2016-the-list-and-ranking.html

FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES. Minnesota is home to 17 Fortune 500 companies. Wisconsin has 10. Minnesota is also home to the world's largest privately-owned company: Cargill. Source: http://beta.fortune.com/fortune500/list/. Dakota County is home to one Fortune 500 company's headquarters - CHS in Inver Grove Heights - which is #84 on the list with $34.6 billion in annual revenues.

STATE BUDGET. Wisconsin's state government has a $1.7 billion budget deficit. Minnesota's state government has a $1.65 billion surplus.

DEBT. The State of Minnesota's debt equals $2,982 per resident, while the State of Wisconsin's debt equals $3,933 per resident. Source: https://ballotpedia.org/State_debt. Dakota County has zero debt, which is unusual in Minnesota and across the country.

BEER CONSUMPTION. Wisconsinites annually consume 38.2 gallons of beer per person, placing them at #6 in the nation. Minnesotans consume 22% less, at 31.3 gallons of beer per person, which doesn't even crack the top 10. Source: http://www.beerinfo.com/index.php/pages/beerstateconsumption.html

MURDERS. There were 165 murders in Wisconsin in 2016. Minnesota had 88. Source: http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/murder-capital-of-the-us-states-with-the-most-murders.html

FARM PRODUCTION. With $20.2 billion in farm production, Minnesota ranks #5 nationally. Wisconsin farmers come in at #9, with $12.5 billion in production. Source: https://data.ers.usda.gov/reports.aspx?ID=49642. Dakota County farmers held their own among Minnesota's yield-leading counties in bushels per acre of oats, corn and soybeans. https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Minnesota/Publications/County_Estimates/

QUALITY OF LIFE. Wisconsin ranks 15th. Minnesota is 2nd. We were narrowly edged out by Hawaii for the top spot. Source: http://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/12/americas-top-states-for-business-2016-the-list-and-ranking.html

MILK & CHEESE. Wisconsin farmers make 2.8 million pounds of cheese annually, earning them the #1 ranking in the nation, while Minnesota ranks #6 with 661,000 of cheese produced. Wisconsin was second only to California in milk production, with Minnesota ranking #9. Source: http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/us-cheese-production-top-10-states.html. https://www.statista.com/statistics/194968/top-10-us-states-by-milk-production/. Notably, MN Milk recently named the Otte Family of Dakota County its 2016 Milk Producer of the Year. http://www.mnmilk.org/news/320727/Minnesota-Milk-Names-Otte-Family-its-Producer-of-the-Year.htm

AARON RODGERS. The Green Bay Packers have one. The Minnesota Vikings don't.

EDUCATION. Wisconsin ranks # 11; Minnesota is #2. In states where at least half of all students take the ACT, Minnesota ranks #1. Source: http://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/12/americas-top-states-for-business-2016-the-list-and-ranking.html. In Dakota County, seven high schools were named to Minnesota's 50 Best High Schools list: Simley, Rosemount, Eagan, South St. Paul, Sibley, Eastview and Apple Valley. Source: goo.gl/qxgw2D

Dakota County Events & Road Construction

THURSDAY: KID-FRIENDLY OPEN HOUSE: Lebanon Hills, 6-8pm. Buckthorn-eating goats and family-friendly activities are part of the final open house for the County's Natural Resource Management System Plan this Thursday, April 13, from 6-8 p.m. at the Lebanon Hills Visitor Center. The plan will guide the future of natural resources management of Dakota County parks, conservation easements and greenways. Parks Department staff will be on hand to discuss other park system issues, including restoration projects and volunteer events planned for 2017. For more information on the Natural Resource Management System Plan, visit www.co.dakota.mn.us/parks.

SATURDAY: FREE FIX-IT CLINIC: Inver Glen Libary, 12-3pm. Repair-savvy volunteers will provide free help fixing everything from electronics and lawn furniture to jewelry and sweaters at Inver Glen Library on April 15th.

ROAD PROJECTS. Here is a link with updates on Dakota County road construction projects

As always, I welcome questions or comments. Have a great week.

Joe