MOUNT PLEASANT - Wisconsin's business environment is worsening, said some who attended Tuesday's Racine County Business Summit at the Racine Marriott, 7111 Washington Ave.

The half-day event included a "government listening session" to give business people access to local, county, state and federal politicians.

Steven Jenkins of accounting firm Jenkins & Vojtisek, said he perceives from clients a less friendly business climate. "I have never had so many questions about, ‘How do I move my business, or my home, out of the state. ... I'm not going to retire or expand here,'" he said.

State Rep. Robin Vos, R-Caledonia, said the last state budget led to difficult decisions that he disagreed with. He cited the manufacturing tax credit, an incentive for Wisconsin companies to stay here, which cost about $100 million a year. "We got rid of that," Vos said.

"We should be a place where, if you sell your business, you pay zero capital gains taxes," Vos said.

Town of Norway Chairman Jean Jacobson said local governments can make it easier for businesses to get started.

In response to a question about overlapping services, she said local governments are eliminating duplication - such as buying salt together and sharing equipment.

"Other areas of the state look at us with envy," Jacobson stated.

Burlington Mayor Bob Miller said the city uses tax increment districts in creative ways to help businesses, such as returning some of the tax income created to them for training. "Tax increment districts give so many tools we can use to help businesses," he said.

Budget difficulties and business incentives arose often. U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl assistant Judy Huffman urged companies to "contact your federal officials when you need money."

Kohl is on the Senate Appropriations Committee, she noted. Federal budget earmarks are often criticized, but Huffman said that "we vet our projects very well."

David Namowicz of Warren Packaging said poor education and crime make the Racine area difficult for his business. He said he is not getting skilled workers and has lost four top managers.

"Their children were having problems in the schools, and it wasn't working for them," Namowicz said.

Laura Sumner Coon asked what the city and county of Racine are doing to foster water-related industry and to land the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's future freshwater research center.

Racine Mayor John Dickert said there is no way that center will be built in Racine County.

But he said the city is trying to get a water testing/beach science facility built in Racine.

"Racine in freshwater testing is the best in the world at it" and has learned how to keep its beaches open, Dickert said.

A center could draw others here to learn its methods, he said.

Melissa Udovicic, Young Professionals of Racine vice president, asked what is being done to market the Racine area.

"We've got a great city," she said, adding, "It's not up to SC Johnson to market it - it's up to you guys."

Dickert said he is fighting for a half-time public relations position to do that.

County Executive Bill McReynolds said the county put money into a marketing effort that, surveys showed, had no impact. The county lacks funding to hit the Chicago and Milwaukee markets, he said.