Gov. Scott Walker is proposing to use a projected $100 million surplus to push down property taxes, but the idea is meeting with some criticism.
In a special session called on Thursday, Walker proposed increasing state aid to local schools by $100 million over the next two years. But, that's something that Todd Berry, president of the Wisconsin Tax Payers Alliance, said wouldn't make a significant difference to most school districts in the state.
“Our best guess is that about 15 percent of school districts would see no benefit from this because they don’t get school aid,” he said.
According to Berry, Wisconsin taxes are about 25 percent above the national average and although a reduction would be welcome, it's likely not going to be significant enough for taxpayers to notice.
“The problem is there are also municipal and county and technical college levies, and those will vary greatly from community to community," he said. "So, when you take half a percent or 1-percent reduction in levy and spread it around the state, it may get washed out by what is happening in your city."
Walker has said that he wanted to deliver the tax cut for December's property tax bills, which has Berry wondering if this is simply a tactic being used to help his re-election campaign.
“December is the operative month because that’s when property tax bills come out, and those are the last property tax bills before the election,” said Berry.
