Tax cut will be applied to December tax bills
By Tyler Lamb
Editor
A new law focused on reducing school property taxes could mean a savings of $10 to $12 for an owner of a $100,000 homes in most of Walworth County.
The estimated savings on December tax bills were computed by the nonpartisan Wisconsin Taxpayer Alliance (WISTAX).
According to the WISTAX estimates, Elkhorn area residents can expect to see an $11 savings, which works out to roughly 92 cents per month.
Conversely, residents of districts with high per-student property values would see no relief, according to the alliance. Several districts within Walworth County are in that category.
Gov. Scott Walker signed the $100 million property tax cut into law Sunday at a farm near Burlington. Even under the cut, property taxes are still projected to increase by $11 – from $2,943 to $2,954 – in two years for the median-valued $148,000 home.
As a result of the law school districts will receive an extension on their deadline to set their tax levies, which were originally due Friday, Nov. 1. The new deadline is Wednesday, Nov. 6.
The Elkhorn Area School District will need to hold a special meeting the week of Nov. 3 to set the levy, approve its budget and meet the new deadline, said Bill, Trewyn, district business manager.
By law, money from the tax-relief measure must be used to reduce property taxes. None of the funds can be used to increase spending on education.
Tax-relief at a glance
The WISTAX estimates 2013 school taxes on a $100,000 home will be reduced by the following amounts for residents of area school districts:
• Big Foot UHS: $0
• Delavan-Darien: $11
• East Troy: $11
• Elkhorn: $11
• Fontana J8: $0
• Geneva J4: $0
• Genoa City J2: $6
• Janesville: $11
• Lake Geneva-Genoa UHS: $0
• Milton: $10
• Sharon J11: $7
• Whitewater: $10
• Williams Bay: $0
• Walworth J1: $7
