Whether you’re a new homeowner or just trying to make sense of your tax bill, here’s a breakdown of how property taxes work in Milwaukee.
We asked representatives from the Office of the City Treasurer and the Milwaukee Assessor’s Office to explain how taxes work.
Why do we pay property taxes?
Property taxes are one of the main ways the City of Milwaukee pays for services like the police and fire departments, street maintenance and garbage collection, libraries and more.
Property taxes make up $324 million of the $2 billion of the city’s revenue, but not all of it. The city also receives money from the state and federal government as well as from fees and fines.
Have property taxes gone up?
Yes, for 2025, residential values increased 14.39% and commercial values increased 17.11% over 2024’s values, which can increase the amount of property taxes due.
What if I think my property assessment is wrong?
Property owners can object to their values every year.
Here’s how it works:
1. Submit your objection by the required deadline. Property owners will have the opportunity to appeal 2026 values starting mid-April, 2026.
2. An appraiser reviews your case and gives a recommendation.
3. The Board of Assessors decides whether the value should change.
4. If you disagree with their decision, you can appeal to a citizen review panel.
How is the value of my property determined?
Every year, the City of Milwaukee Office of the City Assessor updates property values using a method called mass appraisal, a way of estimating value based on sales and market data for similar properties.
In some cases, other methods might be used if needed. You can learn more from the Guide for Property Owners.
What is the current property tax rate?
The net tax rate (called the mill rate) is 22.93. This is applied to each $1,000 of a property’s assessed value.
What affects the tax rate?
Things like the city’s annual budget, changes in total property values across the city, state funding or aid and voter-approved referendums
What happens if I can’t pay my property taxes?
Delinquency (late payment) rates have actually decreased, from over 8,000 delinquent accounts in 2017 to just over 5,000 in 2023. Still, about 5% of properties are late each year.
The city collects 99.8% of all tax dollars owed.
If you’re struggling to pay, there are resources. Here are a few:
Take Root Milwaukee, a local nonprofit has a program geared toward foreclosure assistance.
Homeowners Options Program for the Elderly (H.O.P.E) helps those 60 and over stay in their homes.
Those at risk for tax foreclosure can also access resources through https://city.milwaukee.gov/Strong/Prevent. Currently, to assist taxpayers, the city offers a 10-month interest-free tax payment installment plan.
What else do people need to know about property taxes and how they work?
An increase in assessed value does not necessarily translate to an increase in property taxes. If everyone’s assessment increases, then the mill rate decreases, and one would not see an increase in property taxes.
One has to compare an individual increase to the citywide increase to get an idea of what effect the increase may have on property taxes. If someone’s increase is lower than the citywide average, then they would see a decrease in their property taxes, and vice versa.
The assessment and property tax systems are designed to treat all taxpayers the same. Wisconsin state statutes provide the guidelines that all municipalities must adhere to. The Office of the City Treasurer works with taxpayers to assess all available options in order to facilitate payment.
These numbers are subject to change in coming months because of changes in the city budget.
Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.
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