Repealing Act 10 Could Raise Wisconsin Property Taxes $624
A WILL calculator estimates significant property tax hikes if Act 10's collective bargaining limits are repealed following a 2024 court ruling. The law has saved schools $1.6-4.6 billion yearly. Districts may pass costs to taxpayers amid legal challenges.
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A new calculator from the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty estimates that repealing Act 10 could hike property taxes by $624 or more annually for the owner of an average $300,000 Wisconsin home.[1][5] The tool, released amid ongoing court battles, projects school districts statewide facing $1.8 billion in added yearly costs, potentially passed on to taxpayers if collective bargaining limits from the 2011 law are lifted.[1] Act 10 has saved schools between $1.6 billion and $4.6 billion annually by curbing union demands on salaries and benefits, according to WILL research.[1][2]
Passed by the Wisconsin State Legislature in 2011, Act 10 reformed public employee collective bargaining to control costs during budget shortfalls. A 2024 court ruling struck down key provisions, prompting unions to celebrate while conservative groups warn of fiscal chaos, including possible layoffs or program cuts under levy limits.[2][3] WILL's analysis, based on Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction data, inflation-adjusts pre-Act 10 employee costs to show the gap with current savings.[1]
For Milwaukee residents, this hits close to home: higher property taxes strain family budgets already pinched by rising living costs, potentially forcing cuts to essential school services or public safety.[1][2] Homeowners in Milwaukee Public Schools and surrounding districts could see some of the steepest increases, eroding the financial relief Act 10 provided.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court may soon review the ruling, deciding Act 10's fate and taxpayers' wallets.[2]