Have major Milwaukee County taxes generally risen under David Crowley?

Yes.

Milwaukee County sales and property taxes have increased under County Executive David Crowley.

The Democratic nominee in the Nov. 3 election for governor takes credit for “the largest property tax cut” in the county’s history.

That occurred after Act 12, a bipartisan state law, allowed local leaders to raise Milwaukee city and county sales taxes and provided local governments in Wisconsin more state aid.

The law was largely aimed at helping the Milwaukee governments avert financial crises.

Crowley signed the near-doubling of the county sales tax, to 0.9% from 0.5%, after the Milwaukee County Board approved it.

Property tax levies have increased under Crowley, who took office in May 2020, though not as much as the state average (2.6% from 2020 to 2023):

2020: $304.8 million

2021: $310.3 million (1.8% increase)

2022: $313.8 million (1.1%)

2023: $292.3 million (-6.9%)

2024: $299.6 million (2.5%)

2025: $309.9 million (3.4%)

This Fact Brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

• David Crowley campaign: Getting Things Done
• Milwaukee County: 2024 Adopted Operating Budget
• Fox 6 Milwaukee: 2024 Milwaukee County budget signed; property tax cut coming
• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley signs 0.4% sales tax increase
• Wisconsin Policy Forum: Wisconsin Revenue Deparment Milwaukee County property tax levies
• Wisconsin Watch: Does Milwaukee County have the highest sales tax in Wisconsin?
• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley signs 0.4% sales tax increase
• Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau: Property Tax Level in Wisconsin

Originally published by Wisconsin Watch.