This Just In ...

Some hope for property taxpayers, even in tax-happy Franklin

Posted by Kevin Fischer on April 6, 2011

Needless to say I am not doing cartwheels over the results of Franklin’s aldermanic races Tuesday. I am proud to have supported fine individuals like Pete Kosovich and Bob Schick.

However, the voters have spoken. I congratulate Kristen Wilhelm and Steve Taylor and wish them well in their next terms.

I remain concerned about the tax and spend mentality that permeates City Hall and our school system. Some hope lies in Governor Walker’s proposed 2011-13 state budget.

In a brief about the budget, the Governor’s office writes:

“In challenging economic times, Wisconsin property taxpayers continue to have among the highest property tax burdens in the country. According to U.S. Census data, Wisconsin ranked ninth among the 50 states in property tax burden as a proportion of personal income in 2008 and has been in the top ten states most of the past three decades. In 2010, property taxes as a percentage of personal income rose to their highest level since 1996 as levy growth exceeded the growth in personal income.”

Governor Walker is proposing limits on property tax levies:

“To further protect property taxpayers, the Governor recommends limiting the base allowable levy to the actual prior year levy. Additionally, if debt service would be lower in the budgeted year than in the prior year, counties and municipalities must pass those savings on to the taxpayers by reducing allowable levies accordingly.

In the context of local government aid reductions for schools, technical colleges, counties and municipalities, strong levy controls are important to avoid aid reductions from becoming tax increases for property owners and renters.”

According to the proposed budget, the typical taxpayer will save a total of $736 over the biennium.

Here’s hoping Franklin’s tax and spenders won’t tax and spend right up to the max. Without the levy controls, everyone knows exactly what they would do.