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County poverty rate rose in 2007

Pat Schneider  —  8/29/2008 5:29 am

The rate of poverty in Dane County rose to 10.9 percent in 2007, up from 10 percent in 2006, according to a new report by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Meanwhile, the poverty rate in the state edged down last year, from 11 to 10.8 percent, while the national rate stayed steady at 12.5 percent. According to the federal yardstick, a family of four in 2007 with an income of $20,650 or less was living in poverty.

Those findings were contained in data newly released from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, an ongoing sampling of the population from which annual reports are extrapolated.

The statewide drop in poverty from 2006 to 2007 is statistically insignificant, according to the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, a Madison-based advocacy group. And while the increase in the poverty rate in Dane County last year was small, increases over a period of years are significant and troubling, says the Council.

Between 2000 and 2007, the poverty rate statewide rose from 8.7 percent to 10.8 percent for all people, and from 11.2 percent to 14.4 percent for children under 18, according to Council computations of Census Bureau data.

In Dane County during that period, the poverty rate for all people rose from 9.4 percent to 10.9 percent, while the rate of children in poverty rose from 7.5 percent to 10.8 percent.

What's especially worrisome is that poverty grew while the economy was expanding, said Charity Eleson, executive director.

"One would reason that in a period of economic expansion, everyone's boat would be rising, but families and children in particular did not benefit," Eleson said. "There was an incredible downturn in this year. Next year's numbers will reflect the pain and suffering moving through the lower -- and even middle -- income brackets."

Median household income, adjusted for inflation, dipped statewide between 2000 and 2007, from $50,821 to $50,578. In Dane County, the drop was from $61,260 to $60,791.

According to Census data, an estimated 50,749 people were living in poverty in Dane County in 2007, compared to 45,071 in 2006.

Waukesha County had the lowest overall poverty rate in the state in 2007: 4 percent; Milwaukee County had the highest: 17.8 percent. The poverty rate for the city of Milwaukee was computed at 24.4 percent overall in 2007, and 34.8 percent for children.

The Census data indicate the need for a coordinated, strategic plan to end child poverty in the state, Eleson said.

Her group advocates for Vision 2020, which stresses education and job training; more strategic economic development; bolstered BadgerCare Plus health insurance for low-income families; and maintenance of income support programs like child care tuition assistance, Earned Income Tax Credit, Homestead Tax Credit and food security programs.

"Poverty need not be something we just accept as inevitable," Eleson said. "We can address these issues."

Pat Schneider  —  8/29/2008 5:29 am