Property taxes on a median-valued home would tick upwards under Gov. Tony Evers’ budget proposal at about the rate of inflation, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau.
The new Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimate projects Evers’ budget plan would cause the estimated net tax bill on a median-valued home to increase 2% next year and by 1.6% the year after that. The impact to individual property taxpayers would vary and could be more or less, depending on various factors.
The estimate finds statewide net property-tax levies would increase by 2.4% next year and by 2.1% in the second year of the biennium under Evers’ budget.
The increased tax bills are driven largely by Evers’ plan to boost by 2% the amount counties and municipalities could collect through local property tax levies.
But a countervailing effect comes from Evers’ plan to give a $1.4 billion infusion of state aid to school districts in the next two years. That would enable the state to shoulder a larger share, relative to local property taxpayers, of school district costs.
Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, co-chairman of the Legislature’s budget committee, said in a statement that the report shows how Evers’ budget would mark a shift from budgets enacted under former Gov. Scott Walker.
“The fact is, the Governor’s budget raises property taxes by the largest amount in a decade,” Nygren said. “Republicans have a record of cutting taxes and remain committed to this goal, whereas the governor would rather increase taxes to grow government in Madison.”
Evers spokeswoman Melissa Baldauff said part of the projected property tax increase is due to voters approving referendums to increase their property taxes to fund their local school districts — which she said Evers can’t control.