Wisconsin homeowners are set to shoulder a major increase in property taxes under the Republican-controlled legislature’s proposed state budget, according to a new analysis from the Wisconsin Property Taxpayers Inc (WPT).

At the center of the controversy is the Joint Committee on Finance’s decision not to increase school equalization aid for the upcoming biennium, effectively freezing funding at $5.58 billion per year—the same amount as the previous budget cycle.

Equalization aid is the largest form of state support for public schools, designed to offset district costs and reduce local property tax burdens. Without an increase to account for inflation and rising costs, many districts may be forced to raise local property taxes or cut services to balance their budgets.

The Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates the change will raise property taxes by an average of $81 per household in year one and $121 in year two—a total increase of $202 over the biennium. (RELATED: Wisconsin Republicans Push Election Reforms to Rein in Ballot Confusion, Restore Voter Trust)

“This is a complete reversal of the state’s traditional role in sharing the cost of public education,” said a spokesperson for Wisconsin Property Taxpayers Inc. “It’s a quiet but massive tax hike on homeowners.”

WPT supports the state maintaining two-thirds state funding for K-12 schools so the state can shift taxes from property taxes on Wisconsin homeowners to income and business taxes. .

The budget also includes modest income tax changes. Married couples will see their second tax bracket expand from $19,000–$38,000 to $19,000–$67,000. Seniors aged 67 and older will benefit from a new tax exemption on the first $24,000 of retirement income.

However, the income tax relief totals just $1.3 billion—down sharply from the $3 billion in cuts proposed last session by Republicans, most of which were vetoed by Gov. Tony Evers. Critics question where the remaining surplus is being directed, especially as homeowners absorb increased school costs. (RELATED: Ketanji Brown Jackson Gets Torched in Contentious Supreme Court Case)

Adding to the tax burden, Evers’ veto of the previous GOP tax package—which included a 400-year school funding extension—will drive up property taxes by another $820 million over the next two years, and by $560 million every two years afterward, according to WPT.

As the Joint Finance Committee turns to remaining budget items like corrections and the University of Wisconsin System, critics argue the state is balancing its books at the expense of local taxpayers—shifting burdens without delivering on promises of broad relief.