Many Wauwatosa homeowners had sticker shock when they opened their property tax bills for 2025. The school district's portion of the tax bill increased by about 40% for the average homeowner, according to city estimates, largely from the impact of the school district's two most recent voter-approved referendums.
Those same homeowners may have some tentative good news coming when their 2026 tax bills arrive in the mail this December. There is a good chance that the Wauwatosa School District will hold its tax rate unchanged this year, which could translate to no new tax increase, at least in the school portion of the tax bill.
How is that possible? The short answer is state aid. The long answer is, it's complicated.
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School district budgets and tax levies depend of several factors, some of which are within the district's control and some that aren't. The biggest reason Tosa residents might feel some relief this year is an unexpected boost in state aid, up about $6 million in the coming year to about $21 million, from $15 million last year. The district, though, is still finalizing how best to adjust its budget after receiving that good news from the state.
The following is a closer look at the various factors likely to influence the final tax rate when the Tosa School Board votes on it in October.