As Wisconsinites opened their 2025 property tax bills, many were taken aback by double-digit increases.
The property taxes in Wisconsin have risen noticeably in the past year. According to WPR, school property tax rates climbed an average of 7.8 percent in 2025, significantly above recent norms and creating “sticker shock” among taxpayers.
At the center of many complaints is Gov. Tony Evers’ 2023 partial veto, a highly controversial veto that extended a temporary funding increase for local schools for 400 years. Evers struck the digits “20” and a hyphen from a budget clause so that a $325 per-student revenue limit increase, originally set for two years, now lasts until the year 2425. This move was possible due to Wisconsin’s unique “line item” veto power, with the move becoming known as the 400-year veto.
“As families across Wisconsin open their property tax bills this month, many are experiencing sticker shock—thanks to Governor Evers’ 400-year veto,” Representative Nedweski said. “With one stroke of his pen, he created a four-century-long Democrat property tax hike—something the Legislature never debated, never voted on, and never intended.”
Many Wisconsinites took to social media to show their ridiculous increases. A property owner in West Allis is experiencing an over $1,000 increase from 2022 to 2025, all under the Evers administration. (RELATED: Student Loan Shake-Up Hits Wisconsin)
The veto effectively locks in provision for regular tax increases without legislative review. A resident recently wrote in to the Wausau Pilot & Review that the veto allows school districts to raise property taxes every year up to their limits, pushing the tax burden onto homeowners. (RELATED: Wisconsin Lawmakers Move to Fix ‘F’ Rating on Human Trafficking Laws)
In December 2025, lawmakers passed a resolution to amend the Wisconsin Constitution to curb the partial veto’s ability to increase taxes or fees, a response to the fiscal strain felt by property owners.
Republican lawmakers passed the measure above to eventually end the extended limit after 2027-28 and are pushing a constitutional amendment to prevent future multi-century vetoes, arguing that “no governor should…pass a 400-year property tax increase without the consent of the people,” said Representative Nedweski.