The Wauwatosa School District collected about $2 million from city taxpayers through their most recent property tax bills based on the cost, as determined by the state, of city students attending private schools while receiving state-approved vouchers.
At issue is whether a building that eventually would house tax-exempt functions could be taxed while under construction. Children’s Hospital says no. Wauwatosa says yes.
Whether those bills will be received with angst or relief is likely a case-by-case judgment. It is particularly difficult this year for Tosa taxpayers to compare those bills with those that came before, for at least two reasons.
Highlights included a reduction of yard waste pickup to monthly instead of biweekly, a reduction of one firefighter position, cost-of-living increases for other staff salaries and savings through increased energy efficiency.
Wauwatosa property owners received new assessments in July that increased on average 54% from the old assessments, though individual increases have varied.
