Property Tax Bills Surge to Highest Levels Since 2018
Wisconsin homeowners are facing significant jumps in property tax bills, with some experiencing increases up to 50 percent. In Wauwatosa, property owner Brad Cortright saw a rise of $2,400 in his tax bill, illustrating the statewide trend.
Property Tax Bills Surge: Historical Highs
A recent report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum indicates that K-12 school property taxes have surged by an average of 7.8 percent as of December, marking the highest increase in three decades. This steep rise stems from local referenda and increased per-pupil revenue limits established over the past two years.
Factors Driving the Increase
Several factors contribute to the record increase in property tax levies for local governments:
- Flat state support for education
- Increased per-pupil aid limits
- The approval of numerous school referendums by voters
The report explains that a greater financial burden for local government services, particularly education, is shifting toward property taxpayers this year. The Republican-led state legislature and Governor Tony Evers have maintained the per-pupil revenue limit at $325, which likely exacerbated K-12 property tax levies.
Impact on Local Communities
Many residents are feeling the financial impact. For instance, homeowner Wayne Boardman in Beloit experienced a tax increase from $1,600 to $2,200. He noted that this was extremely challenging given his budget constraints as a single parent.
The School District of Beloit saw its tax levy nearly triple, jumping from $5.6 million in 2024 to $16.2 million in 2025. This dramatic increase was partly due to a reduction of nearly $10 million in general school aids.
Tax Increases Across Key Districts
At least 192 of the 421 school districts in Wisconsin have proposed referendum questions in 2024. In the Madison Metropolitan School District, voters passed two referenda totaling $607 million. However, because general school aids were not increased, Madison taxpayers are facing significant tax burdens.
Notably, Madison’s property tax increase accounted for 17 percent of the statewide rise in K-12 property tax levies. Even without Madison’s increases, statewide levies would have risen by 6.9 percent, the third-highest rate in 25 years.
Wauwatosa’s Challenges
In Wauwatosa, the average property tax levy has increased by over 30 percent. Cortright expressed concern about further tax hikes stemming from upcoming referendums for both the schools and the city. Overall, gross statewide property tax levies are projected to grow by approximately 5 percent, exceeding last year’s growth of 4.4 percent.
As taxpayers brace for these increases, the lack of state tax credits to offset them raises questions about long-term housing affordability. Concerns about the rising property taxes are likely to influence the voting decisions of residents in the upcoming periods.
