Wisconsin Ranks No. 23 for State Financial Health, Earns B Grade

Wisconsin has a Taxpayer Surplus™ of $1,100 per taxpayer, according to Truth in Accounting’s 2026 Financial State of the States report. The state ranks No. 23 out of 50 and earned a B grade in the nonpartisan nonprofit’s 17th annual report, which analyzes states’ financial condition using audited government financial statements and retirement system reports.

What the Numbers Mean for Wisconsin

A Taxpayer Surplus™ means the state has more assets available to pay its bills than it owes. The $1,100 figure represents the estimated surplus per taxpayer, not a payment owed to residents.

The report shows Wisconsin had approximately $2.5 billion more in assets available to pay its bills than it owed.

How It Compares Nationally

Across the country, 24 states did not have enough money to pay all their bills, while 26 states had a Taxpayer Surplus™. Collectively, states reported $2.85 trillion in bills and $2.23 trillion in assets available to pay them, leaving a $624 billion shortfall. The bills included $775 billion in unfunded pension liabilities and $490 billion in unfunded retiree healthcare obligations.

Strong investment market returns improved many states’ pension positions in 2025. Truth in Accounting cautions states against using favorable investment years to increase promised benefits or reduce pension contributions, urging them instead to strengthen long-term funding.

Read the full 2026 Financial State of the States report.