Keep Property Taxes in Check

The property tax is the single highest tax in Wisconsin. In fact, the Badger State has one of the highest property tax rates in the country. Wisconsin homeowners pay $2,000 more on the same home, compared to the national average.

Wisconsin property taxes are the 8th highest in the nation. Housing affordability in Wisconsin is closely tied to property taxes, which can alleviate or exacerbate the financial burden on homeowners. High property taxes not only make it harder for families to afford their homes, but they also create barriers to homeownership and hinder job growth.

These rising costs are burying:

  • Seniors on fixed incomes

  • Working families

  • First-time homebuyers

  • Farmers

  • Small businesses

Among Midwestern states, Wisconsin has the second highest percentage of homeowners across all income levels who are extremely cost burdened. Only Illinois ranks higher than Wisconsin.

In 2011, Wisconsin imposed a local property tax levy freeze, saving Wisconsinites over $14 billion in property taxes. If local governments or school districts wish to increase the levy limit, they must seek approval from voters via referendum. These referendums have a high passage rate, with more than 65% passing. While some question the process, many advocate for greater transparency regarding how property tax increases will impact homeowners in both the short and long term.

Chasing sales violates the uniformity clause

Recent statewide polling shows that 86% of Wisconsinites support required local voter approval for property tax hikes. Anywhere between 66-77% oppose remove the referendum requirement to increase property taxes regardless of the reasons including transportation and EMS. 57% say that reducing property taxes is more important than funding schools, this is a notable shift.

2025: Largest Property Tax Increase in Decades

A partial veto in the 2023–25 state budget created a $325 per-pupil funding increase every year, indefinitely—often referred to as the “400-year veto.”

Additionally, the 2025–27 state budget did not include state funding to offset this ongoing $325 increase. As a result, property taxpayers are left footing the bill.

Taken together, these actions have produced the largest increase in K–12 property taxes in roughly 30 years. This does not include additional property tax increases approved through local referenda, which reached record-setting approval levels in both 2024 and 2025.

At the same time, many Wisconsinites are already considered “extremely cost-burdened,” meaning they spend more than 50% of their income on housing.

Against that backdrop, rising property taxes are placing added strain on household budgets that are already stretched thin.

Why are Wisconsin Property Taxes so High?

Unlike many states, Wisconsin relies heavily on property taxes to fund local governments and schools. For every $1 in property taxes paid, 52% supports local governments and 48% supports schools. When essential services depend so heavily on a single funding source, the cost is borne directly and solely by property owners across the state.

What can we do?

Wisconsin property owners are ready for change. Property tax relief, protection for property owners and strong schools require smart, balanced solutions—not a single approach.

Below are a few tax relief options:

  • Keep 2011 strict levy limits
  • Limit exemptions to the levy
  • Remove items from the property tax bill
  • Referendum reform
  • Expand funding for local governments & schools using other revenue sources
  • Constitutionally limit property taxes
  • Allocate additional state funding
  • Eliminate the 400-year increase