MADISON, WI – Reporting from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel makes it clear, Republicans in Madison are driving up property taxes across our state and making Wisconsin less affordable for our families, neighbors, and friends.
SSDC Communications Director Will Karcz on Wisconsin’s rising property taxes:
“The hardworking men and women of Wisconsin deserve a legislature that has their backs and is fighting to cut costs, unfortunately the Republican majorities in Madison are failing on all fronts. Their refusal to fund public education forces communities to pick up the slack, and we have seen record high referendums across the state as a result. While Republicans sit by and watch families struggle to make ends meet, Senate Democrats are leading the charge to make Wisconsin more affordable. The difference couldn’t be more clear, and it’s why voters will elect a Democratic Senate majority next year.”
Read more on Wisconsin Republicans driving up property taxes:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Property taxes are surging in Wisconsin. Here’s what’s behind the rise
- “The expected dollar amount increase in property tax levies for K-12 schools throughout the state is $476.1 million, bringing the total to $6.6 billion. About half of all property taxes statewide come from these school levies.”
- “That jump is fueled largely by two factors: decisions made in the most recent state budgets and referendums passed at the local level by voters who agreed to pay higher taxes at the request of school districts.”
- “This year, it’s entirely up to property taxes to fund those increases, as the bipartisan 2025-27 state budget did not include an increase to general school aid.”
- “In addition to those state budget decisions, voters passed the most school funding referendums in state history in fall 2024, and again approved the majority of school referendums on the ballot in spring 2025. Growth and enrollment in private school voucher programs also contributed to the increase, along with a per-pupil aid bump in the most recent state budget.”
- “Overall, statewide property tax levies are expected to grow by about 5% this year. That’s the highest since at least 2007, but not significantly higher than some recent years. According to the Policy Forum, since the state hasn’t increased funding for credits to offset those increases, taxpayers will likely be responsible for the full amount.”
