- Affordability is a top concern for Wisconsin voters, who face rising costs for housing, food, and taxes.
- Wisconsin ranks among the top 10 states for the highest property taxes, which are a direct result of state and local policy choices.
- A potential repeal of Act 10 could increase property taxes and create a multi-billion dollar budget hole for schools and local governments.
- School district spending, often increased through voter-approved referendums, is a major driver of high property taxes in the state.
“Affordability” has become the dominant theme in politics across the nation, including here in Wisconsin. Rising costs for housing, food, healthcare, utility bills and taxes are on the top of voters’ minds, while politicians of every stripe echo the language of affordability. However, our political leaders are failing to target the policies that actually drive-up costs and lack a willingness to stop supporting measures that make life more expensive.
As property tax bills arrive in mailboxes throughout Wisconsin, homeowners are reminded that the state ranks among the highest in the nation for property taxes, placing 10th overall. What’s often overlooked in this statewide debate is that these high property taxes are not accidental. They are a direct consequence of policy choices made in both Madison and by local governments.
When policymakers and the courts weaken cost-saving reforms, loosen fiscal guardrails or encourage local governments to look to taxpayers first rather than living within their budgets; higher property tax bills are inevitable. If policymakers are truly serious about making Wisconsin affordable, they must first acknowledge that state-level decisions have local-level consequences. And in the end, it is homeowners who are the ones left holding the bag.
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Much more on Wisconsin Act 10, here.