Tax checks written, most bigger this year Dec. 30, 2009 Langlade County property owners are writing four-figure checks to their city and town treasurers this week on the heels of a state report that shows that the tax burden statewide has increased over 4 percent.
The Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance is reporting that the total property tax statewide will increase 4.5 percent on a gross basis, falling to 4.2 percent once state tax credits are figured.
The Alliance warned that the actual size of the average increase will not be known until spring, allowing time for state officials to collect, correct and finalize tax data.
“However enough is now known to make an informed prediction,” the Alliance said.
According to the nonpartisan policy research organization, school levies are up an average of 6 percent statewide, followed by technical colleges at 3.9 percent and counties, 3.2 percent.
“The remaining unknown is municipal property taxes,” the Alliance sad. “Partial receipt of actual levy information for towns, villages and cities suggests their taxes could be up by about 3 2. percent.”
County levies
Although total levies in the 72 counties are up 3.2 percent to $1.91 billion, tax changes vary greatly by region. The largest increases are in Green, 11.3 percent, and Dane and Crawford counties, both 8 percent. Five counties cut their levies with the largest reductions coming in Marquette, down 2.4 percent, and Door, down 1.7 percent.
Langlade County’s levy rose less than the state average at 3 percent, rising from $8.17 million to $8.41 million.
In comparison, Forest rose 3.9 percent, from $4.83 million to $5.02 million; Shawano, 4.2 percent, from $13.56 million to $14.13 million; and Lincoln, 5.4 percent, from $12.14 million to $12.79 million.
Oneida’s tax levy was unchanged at $15.08 million.
The Alliance said the combination of state aid reductions and state-imposed levy controls served to limit county budget options.
Technical colleges
The state’s 16 technical college districts increased their levies by an average of 3.9 percent. Approved taxes totaled $742.6 million compared to $714.6 million last year.
Northcentral Technical College, which includes Antigo, increased its levy 3.7 percent, from $28.82 million to $29.89 million..
To the north, Nicolet Area Technical College, which includes the Elcho area, decreased 0.4 percent, from $20.14 million to $20.06 million. It was the only district in the state to trim the tax bill.
The largest increase, 13.4 percent, was in the Southwest Wisconsin district, headquartered in Fennimore, followed by Madison, 8.6 percent.
School districts
In an earlier report, the Alliance reported on public school levies, which increased statewide by 6 percent, or $4.54 billion.
“With state aid reductions varying so much, individual districts can differ dramatically from this average,” the Alliance reported. “The largest increase exceeded 40 percent, the largest decreases are just under 20 percent.”
Antigo levied a tax rate of $7.70 per $1,000 of valuation for the last school year, compared to a statewide average for similar districts of $8.61.
Elcho was even lower, levying a rate of $5.12 per $1,000. White Lake, the smallest of the three area school districts in both the number of students and the tax base, levied $10.24
Wittenberg-Birnamwood levied $6.50 per $1,000 of valuation.
Numbers from other area schools include Ashland, $6.32; Bowler, $7.23; Crandon, $7.04; D.C. Everest, $9.52; Menominee Indian, $9.58; Merrill, $7.73; Eagle River, $5.23; Rhinelander, $7.59; Shawano, $8.06; and Wausau, $9.27.
Spending increases varied by category. While total per pupil expenditures statewide increased 5.1 percent, those on administration and pupil services both rose 6 percent over the year. Expenditures for direct instruction were up 5.4 percent.
Several areas rose less, including instructional support, 4.6 percent; transportation, 4.2 percent; and building and grounds, 1.5 percent. Spending on capital improvements and debt service was up 2.6 percent in 2008-09.
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