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Friday, Sep 18, 2026

Have major Milwaukee County taxes generally increased under David Crowley?

Tom Kertscher / Wisconsin Watch, Wisconsin Watch
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%)

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