Milwaukee property tax hike; owners respond to increase
MILWAUKEE - It’s the time of year for gifts and giving, and paying Uncle Sam.
Some homeowners say there’s still sticker shock with their new property tax bills, with some in Milwaukee seeing more than a 20% jump.
Elder William Welch is lining up at Milwaukee City Hall. He has to pay his 2024 property tax bill. It's up about $400 from last year.
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"It’s been the highest increase ever, that I have ever experienced in one year," Welch said. "It's getting out of hand, as far as the tax increases are getting out of hand. And we’re not getting what we’re paying for."
Overall, the City of Milwaukee's tax levy rose 2%.
"This was a very intense budget process," Mayor Cavalier Johnson said back in September. "I pay attention to every single issue, many times pushing back and advocating for residents in Milwaukee to make sure we weren’t overly looking to take more money from their pockets. I want them to have more resources in their pockets, so we were very, very vigilant on that."
Milwaukee County's is up 3.2%, while Milwaukee Public Schools spiked 29.5%, according to the tax sheet the city sent out. Part of that big jump is a referendum that voters approved in April.
2025 Milwaukee County approved; tax levy, other highlights to know
The 2025 Milwaukee County budget, which includes a 2.5% property tax levy increase, was approved on Wednesday.
"I’m very upset, I think it’s very unfair. I don’t have this kind of money," said Bradley Scott, a Milwaukee property owner. "I have to find a way to pay it. I have no options. I’m not moving or anything."
Your property tax money will pay for things like police, fire, police, schools and much more in the new year.
"I have no idea," said Charles Lewis, another property owner. "I’m hoping they do the right thing with the money, but I have no idea what they really do with the money."
Another property owner who went by John, said the city is having issues and citizens have to pay for them.
"You’re holding a bill in your hand, and you’re ready to open it, and you’re like, ‘Oh no.’ It was just a lot more than I thought it was going to be. A thousand dollars can be used for other things. Groceries, medical expenses, vehicle payments, things you have to do to your house. So it’s just kind of crazy that it went up that much. I think the city needs help with a lot of issues, and we have to pay for it."
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Even if you rent, watch out.
"Rents will probably go up just because of inflation of everything: the property taxes, the food is going up," John said.
The city tax info sheet sent with city tax bills reports the tax levy for city taxpayers will increase by:
- 43 cents goes to Milwaukee Public Schools
- 34 cents per dollar goes to the City of Milwaukee
- 14 cents goes to Milwaukee County
- 5 cents for the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
- 4 cents for Milwaukee Area Technical College
"In 2025, 2026, if we don’t attack this problem, or address this problem, the taxes are going to be even higher," Welch said.