Common Council Acts to Protect Taxpayers Following Historic Property Tax Increases Driven by MPS Referendum

Following the largest 2-year property tax increase in Milwaukee’s history, including last year’s 29 percent increase in the Milwaukee Public Schools tax levy as a result of the voter-approved MPS referendum, the Milwaukee Common Council has taken concrete action to protect taxpayers and strengthen fiscal accountability.

During its meeting on Tuesday, January 20, the Common Council unanimously approved a resolution directing the Office of the City Attorney to track legal work performed on behalf of Milwaukee Public Schools and pursue reimbursement for that work, ensuring City taxpayers are not subsidizing services for another taxing authority.

“This was a direct response to what residents saw on their tax bills,” said Alderman Peter Burgelis, author of the resolution. “After a historic property tax increase driven largely by the MPS referendum, the Common Council acted to protect taxpayers by tightening oversight, demanding transparency, and ensuring the City is not absorbing expenses that belong elsewhere.”

The action implements a budget footnote adopted as part of the 2026 City budget and reinforces the Council’s commitment to responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars at a time when household budgets are under significant strain.

This resolution offers protection and oversight including:

• Ending cost shifting by requiring the City Attorney’s Office to track time spent on MPS legal matters.
• Pursues reimbursement so City taxpayers are not footing the bill for work performed for another governmental entity that levies its own property taxes already.
• Strengthens accountability following a referendum-driven tax increase that significantly affected the past two property tax bills.

“Milwaukee residents have been shocked by property tax bill after property tax bill that eats at every family’s affordability budget,” Alderman Burgelis said. “The Common Council cannot undo last year’s referendum, and we all want to support our public schools, but we can and did take action to protect taxpayers by making sure City resources are used efficiently and fairly.”

The resolution reflects a broader effort by the Common Council to address rising costs with accountability, transparency, and fiscal discipline, rather than imposing additional burdens on homeowners.

“This is exactly what taxpayers expect,” Alderman Burgelis added. “When taxes go up, oversight must go up too.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.