Residents in school districts across the state will likely see an increase in their property taxes on their upcoming tax bills, but the increase probably will be considerably lower than last year despite a recession spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wisconsinites statewide will see an average increase of 3.3% in property taxes toward K-12 schools on their December bill, which is less than the average increase of 4.5% in the previous year, according to a study released Thursday by the Wisconsin Policy Forum.
The increase, though slimmer than 2019, is larger than most in recent years and brings property tax revenue to nearly $5.4 billion for Wisconsin public schools. The Wisconsin Policy Forum, a nonpartisan research organization, attributed the increase in tax revenue to the high rate of passage for referendums across the state as well as higher state revenue limits for schools.
“Given the effects of the pandemic, these increases will come at an especially bad time for some property owners,” said Jason Stein, Wisconsin Policy Forum research director. “On the other hand they will also help sustain critical services like education and public health at a time when they are particularly needed.”
The increase, one of the largest in the past decade, could ensure a steady flow of resources to local governments and school districts, despite the recession.
Aside from approved school district referendums across the state, changes in state-imposed school revenue limits and state aid also affected the property tax increase.
The state budget increased the per-pupil revenue limit by $175 per pupil last year and $179 per pupil this year after four years of static revenue limits. The 2020-21 increase amounted to an increase in revenue of roughly $150 million across Wisconsin.
The average statewide per pupil revenue limit was just over $11,450 for the 2020-21 school year, compared with $9,809 in 2011-12. In the Madison School District, the per pupil revenue limit was just over $13,322 for the 2020-21 school year, compared with $11,132 in 2011-12.
This year, the state provided an additional $163.5 million in general school aid, an increase of 3.4% over the previous year, which was the largest increase in general aid since 2005, according to the Wisconsin Policy Forum.
But not all school districts will see an increase in either general school aid or per pupil revenue limit, due to a state formula that determines the finances of each district.
The Madison School District was one of two to adopt the largest increases in property tax raw dollars, due to successful referendums. The Milwaukee School District accounted for the largest increase of $42.5 million in property tax dollars to Madison’s $19.9 million. If the levies of those two districts combined were removed from the statewide total, the increase in property tax would be 2.3%, or one percentage point lower, according to the study.
One-third of the state’s 446 school districts had a decrease in their tax levies, including New Berlin, where it was $3.4 million lower; De Pere, $3.2 million lower; Wauwatosa, $2.5 million lower; Eau Claire, $2.2 million lower; and La Crosse, $2 million lower.
Public K-12 schools, technical colleges and counties account for two out of every three dollars in property tax revenue, according to the study.
Photos: see bears, bucks, and fighting foxes caught on Wisconsin trail cams
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A wild turkey tom displays his feathers for a hen in Adams County. Male turkeys strut to attract females and to establish dominance over subordinate males. On adult males, like the one pictured, the tail forms a full, unbroken contour when fanned out. On juvenile males, the middle 4-6 tail feathers are longer than the outer feathers, so the tail appears uneven when fanned out.
Ashland weasel
A long-tailed weasel, one of three weasel species in Wisconsin, dashes through the snow in Ashland County in a trail cam photo from the Snapshot Wisconsin collection.
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A porcupine photographed in Bayfield County. Volunteers say the lumbering gait is a key characteristic to identifying porcupines -- that, and the sharp quills.
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A pair of Clark County bear cubs wrestle near the end of their first summer. Black bear cubs weigh a pound or less when they're born during the winter but grow quickly after emerging from the den.
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A muskrat captured in Dane County.
Fisher, Door County
Primary growth forest, where the herbaceous layer stays relatively low to the ground, makes for great opportunities to capture wildlife, such as this fisher photographed near a Door County brook.
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A pack of coyote cubs prowl through the woods of Iowa County.
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Moose are an uncommon sight in Wisconsin, but the number of moose observations in the Snapshot Wisconsin database more than doubled in 2020, with at least four photographed in September and October across Iron, Price, and Burnett Counties.
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Trail cams sometimes capture more than one species in a frame, though rarely a predator. This Juneau County shot captured two -- as a black bear and coyote cross paths.
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Predator and prey come together in this La Crosse County image of a barred owl carrying off a fresh catch.
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Introduced to Wisconsin in the late 1800s, the ring-necked pheasant can be distinguished from other upland game birds by its long, pointed tail. This Lafayette County pheasant makes a rare appearance after snowfall.
Marquette Red Fox
Not only does this Marquette County image show an uninhibited moment between two red foxes; it also showcases the distinct pelage of this iconic Wisconsin species.
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A Virginia opossum carries her young on her back in this Milwuakee County image. North America's only marsupial, Opossums carry their young in a pouch until they are old enough to cling to their mother's back.
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The color of wolves' coats can vary widely. Black (melanistic) wolves, are less common than those sporting the traditional grizzled coat, so staff and volunteers enjoy coming across photos like this one. The unusual eye color of this Oneida County wolf is especially noteworthy.
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A deer, rabbit and skunk cross paths in this Pepin County photo. Only about 0.2% of Snapshot Wisconsin photos contain multiple species.
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Greater prairie chickens lekking in Portage County. Snapshot Wisconsin teamed up with wildlife management to use trail cameras to monitor leks, such as this one, where male birds display to attract females.
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A Racine County mink captured in a rare still moment. Mink are often captured at night or in motion, making it difficult to distinguish their features.
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Perhaps less recognized than their relatives the hairy and downy woodpeckers, red-bellied woodpeckers are nonetheless relatively common and widespread across the state. This action shot from Richland County showcases the red caps and beautiful checkered plumage.
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Wisconsin's mascot is typically seen at night, but this Sauk County badger photo shows off its fantastic markings in the daylight.
Bull elk in Sawyer County
A bull elk in Sawyer County. Snapshot Wisconsin has been used to help monitor elk herds reintroduced to the state.
Trempealeau bobcat
A bobcat caught on a trail camera in Trempealeau County. In addition to being smaller than cougars, bobcats are recognizable for their short -- or "bobbed" -- tails.
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The American marten is extremely rare in Wisconsin. In more than 50 million photos, this 2019 shot from Vilas County is the only one to capture one -- or at least part of one.
Waukesha deer
This white buck was captured by a Snapshot Wisconsin camera in Waukesha County. Wisconsin law forbids hunting white deer.
Waupaca cougar
This male cougar, likely from the Dakotas, photographed in Waupaca County, is one of only two captured by a network of 2,100 volunteer trail cams in the Department of Natural Resource's Snapshot Wisconsin project.
