07/23/2026
Amy Rose and I just left the courthouse spoke at a committee hearing looking to put the "Investing in Justice" courthouse project to referendum. The all in cost of which could be over $1B (BILLION with a B). My comments, below, and other taxpayer comments heard didn't seem to matter as the committee voted 4-3 to proceed without taxpayer permission.
"The average West Allis homeowner has seen an average of a $400 tax increase. Earlier this week Tosa residents found out they will be paying an additional $20/month for 20 years to update their city hall/library complex. City of Milwaukee residents have seen almost a 15% assessment increase which will result in higher property tax bills.
The county has been consistently increasing sales tax, fees and property taxes using the residents here more as a piggy bank than constituents.
Some residents are lucky enough to be able to shop in Racine, Waukesha and Washington counties to avoid those sales tax increases. Some of those residents have or are planning to move to those counties to help their budgets stay within reason. The members of this county that are most effected by these increases are the people that can afford it the least.
People like the grandmother on a fixed income that relies on her children, grandchildren or public transport to shop has not only been hit with inflationary increases but additional increases to her property taxes due to reassessment, school referendums and now this $900M+ additional assessment which will just make her budget tighter. She doesn't have the luxury of moving.
A simple google search reveals rents in Milwaukee County have increases almost 40% since 2020. As you can imagine landlords will not absorb the entire amount this tax increase will bring. A similar google search revealed almost 200,000 of Milwaukee residents are tenants with nearly 5% of them receiving some sort of assistance. That means more tax dollars, received from Federal programs like HUD will need to be secured.
Finally, the families that moved to communities within the county giving them better educational opportunities and safer neighborhoods. Housing costs have pushed their already extended budgets to the limit. Yet another increase will cause them to make even tougher choices.
Choices like whether to gut and rehab their kitchen to bring it to modern standards and make it the showcase of their home or just to paint their cabinets, replace their counter tops and fixtures, making it functionally better but not breaking their budget.
Taxpayers make budget choices everyday and we are just asking for the opportunity to have input on this budget decision too.
Thank you."
I tried... EVERY ELECTION MATTERS!
-Lisa
