Property tax levies in region rise 6.1 percent in 2008

Increase is southeast Wisconsin’s biggest in five years

By MIKE JOHNSON
mikejohnson@journalsentinel.com

Posted: July 31, 2008

Property tax collections in southeastern Wisconsin rose by 6.1% this year, the largest levy increase in the last five years, a new Public Policy Forum study shows.

Christine Lufter, president of the Waukesha Taxpayers League watchdog group, bristled at the news of the 6.1% jump in the overall levy, as did Mark Block, state director of the watchdog group Americans for Prosperity.

Lufter called it an "unreasonable increase" and said voters need to oust leaders who refuse to hold the line on taxes.

Said Block, "Local governments have been getting away with higher spending for years. With home values declining and the economy on the downturn, government still has the audacity to increase taxes to pay for outrageous public employee benefits that no one in the private sector can afford and without any regard for the taxpayer's ability to pay. Wisconsin citizens are having a difficult time feeding their families, and government needs to get on a citizens budget."