Wisconsin State Superintendent weighs in on expected property tax increases

Wisconsin Policy Forum has released a report that shows property tax levies for K-12 schools will rise $327.2 million on bills mailed out in December to taxpayers based on preliminary data from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. This would represent a 5.7% increase over last December’s gross property tax bills, the highest increase since 2009.

These increases are the result of a record amount of school district referenda that were passed in 2024 with 169 passing state-wide.

“Voters in nearly two-thirds of public school districts have approved at least one referendum since the beginning of 2021,” explained the report. “Since then, a total of 390 referenda have been approved to increase district property taxes beyond state limits.”

State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly has expressed appreciation towards voters and taxpayers for their support of the state’s public schools, but wishes state politicians would help secure more funding.

“As we have seen across the state, with high referendum approval rates in November, communities value public schools and understand the need to appropriately fund our kids’ futures,” explained Dr. Underly. “Unfortunately, those same communities are being put in an impossible position by our state legislature, which has severely underfunded public schools for well over a decade. Local taxpayers are often choosing to increase their property taxes just so their local schools can keep the lights on and keep educating kids.”

In a statement released Wednesday, December 11, Dr. Underly suggested an alternative.

“It doesn’t have to be this way. My biennial budget proposal reinvests in our public schools and our kids, holds down local property taxes, and will limit the need for districts to go to referendum. By providing sustainable funding to our public schools at the state level, our public schools can create new, innovative ways to meet families’ needs and provide a high-quality education to all kids.”

The full tax report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum can be found here.