The Wauwatosa School District faces the biggest potential fiscal impact from what are known as "chargebacks," because the district's tax levy forms the largest portion of Tosa property owners' tax bills, about 37%.
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.
