CONLEY COMMENTARY – Everything’s going up | WSAU News/Talk 550 AM · 99.9 FM

CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – I complained last week that our Wausau and Marathon County property taxes are up, despite a record increase in state aid.

Now comes a report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum, which analyzed property taxes statewide. They are up 4.7% across Wisconsin. So it isn’t just the local city council and county board that took the state money and spent even more. The increase would have been even higher – 5% – if it wasn’t for increases in the school tax credit and the state lottery credit. 

Dozens of local government entities raised taxes anyway despite large increases in state aid. It’s the biggest property tax increase around the state since 2007.

If you live in Wausau, you’ve already received your quarterly water bill. Wausau water has doubled since 2021, and is now among the most expensive in the state. And my electric bill arrived over the weekend. It too is much higher than just a year ago. And perhaps you remember the news story from last month that natural gas prices are down this winter. Well, down from a sharp price spike a year ago. And natural gas is only one part of your utility bill. The other is electric, and those rates are up. You, dear customer, are paying for more expensive solar and wind farms as less expensive coal-fired power plants are phased out.

If you get the feeling that you can’t win, you’re right. We’re even told that inflation is moderating. It’s down to 3% after spiking at double-digits two summers ago. Well, don’t you believe your lying ears. The proper way to describe our current situation is this: prices continue to go up, just not as fast as before. 

So, what to do about it? Well, many of the local government people are up for reelection in four short months. Now is the time to find out who is a friend of the taxpayers. Who has ideas about how to control spending? Ask now. Or your tax bill will be higher next year.

Chris Conley