Why Your Property Taxes Went Up in Wisconsin in 2025–2026
MARSHFIELD, WI (OnFocus) – If you opened your property tax bill this winter and did a double-take, you’re not alone. Across Wisconsin, most homeowners saw their bills rise 4% to 8% (and sometimes more) over the past two years. The good news? It’s not random. The bad news? It’s a combination of forces that aren’t going away soon.
Here’s the plain-English breakdown of why your bill went up — and what’s likely to happen next.
1. Your Home Is Worth a Lot More Than It Used To Be
Property taxes = (your home’s assessed value) × (local tax rate). In 2025, the total value of all homes in Wisconsin jumped almost 9%, adding $57 billion in taxable residential value in a single year — the third-biggest one-year spike since 2006. When your home’s value rises but the tax rate stays about the same (or drops only a little), your bill still goes up.
Example: A home assessed at $200,000 last year that jumped to $218,000 this year pays an extra ~$270 more at the typical Wisconsin rate.
2. Schools Are the Biggest Driver — And Voters Keep Saying “Yes”
Almost half of your property tax bill goes to K-12 schools. State funding hasn’t kept up with rising costs (especially special education), so school districts ask voters for permission to go above strict state levy caps. 2024 set a state record: 169 school referendums passed.
In Marshfield, voters approved a $71.6 million facilities bond in November 2024 — that alone adds roughly $142 per year for every $100,000 of home value starting this winter.
By comparison, Milwaukee Public Schools’ levy jumped nearly 30% after its referendum.
3. Cities, Counties, and Fire/EMS Departments Have Rising Costs Too
Everything from snow plowing to police salaries costs more these days. State law limits how much local governments can raise taxes without a referendum, but most years that cap is only 1–3%. When costs rise faster than the cap, services get cut — or voters are asked to approve overrides (like Marshfield’s April 2025 public-safety referendum that added two firefighter/EMTs).
4. State Budget Choices Shift More Costs to Your Property Tax Bill
The 2025–27 state budget (Wisconsin Act 15) added $1.4 billion for schools and gave some property-tax relief, but it still left many districts short. Result: local property taxes fill the gap. The budget did expand school-levy tax credits and phased out the personal-property tax on business equipment, which will slow future increases — but those savings are small compared with rising home values and school needs.
Bottom Line for the Average Homeowner
Statewide, the typical 2025 property tax bill on a median-valued home is about $3,590 — up roughly $150–$300 from two years ago, depending on where you live. In Marshfield, the combination of the school bond and rising assessments means most homeowners are paying $300–$600 more per year than they did in 2023.
What You Can Do
- Check your assessment notice (mailed each spring) and appeal if it looks too high (deadline is usually early May).
- Use the free calculators at revenue.wi.gov or the Wisconsin Policy Forum website to estimate next year’s bill.
- Watch for school and public-safety referendums on your ballot — they directly affect your taxes.
Property taxes in Wisconsin remain among the highest in the nation because Wisconsinites choose to fund schools and local services this way. Until the state covers a bigger share of school costs or home values cool off, modest increases are likely to continue.
References
- Wisconsin Department of Revenue – 2025 Equalized Values Summary (August 2025)
- Wisconsin Policy Forum – “Wisconsin Property Taxes 2025: Levies Up, Rates Down” (November 2025)
- Wisconsin Policy Forum – “Record Referendum Year Drives School Levy Growth” (January 2025)
- 2025 Wisconsin Act 15 (2025–27 Biennial Budget) – Legislative Fiscal Bureau Summary
- Marshfield School District – $71.6 Million Referendum Information (November 2024 voter approval)
- City of Marshfield – 2025 & 2026 Adopted Budgets and Public Safety Referendum Results
- Wood County Treasurer – 2025 Property Tax Levy & Mill Rate Announcement
- Marathon County Finance Department – 2026 Proposed Budget Presentation
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – “Milwaukee property values soar, taxes follow” (May–December 2025 series)
- Legislative Fiscal Bureau – “Impact of Personal Property Tax Exemption on School Levies” (July 2025 memo)
Author: News Desk
This piece was posted by our news team! Contact us or submit stories at [email protected].
