Total operating spending across Wisconsin cities and villages increased sharply in 2023 after a period of high inflation, according to the Wisconsin Policy Forum’s 2025 Municipal DataTool. That was essentially the case in southern Ozaukee County municipalities, though at least one saw a significant jump while another’s spending dropped. The report, released last week, looks at a decade of operating spending using reports compiled by the state Department of Revenue for 2023 and 2024. Dashboards within the tool focus on property taxes, municipal spending, debt, fund balances, shared revenue (a key form of state aid), property values and income and population.
Madison taxpayers have long supported far above average (now > $25,000 per student) K-12 tax & spending practices. This, despite long term, disastrous reading results.