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Walworth County property taxes, values up

ELKHORN — Property taxes are up in Walworth County, but so are property values.

Property taxes collected in Walworth County increased 6.5 percent between 2008 and 2009, the biggest increase among seven counties in southeastern Wisconsin, according to a report developed by Milwaukee-based Public Policy Forum, non-profit, non-partisan policy research group.

But Walworth County also led the region for the fourth consecutive year in property value growth—5.9 percent in 2007-08.

Although Walworth County property value growth was the lowest since 2000, county property value continues to grow at a “healthy rate,” report lead researcher Jeff Schmidt said.

“Even now, they’re still leading,” Schmidt said. “(Walworth County’s) growth is slowing just like all the other counties in the region, but just not as much as other counties.”

A 7.5 percent increase in school taxes contributed to Walworth County’s region-leading increase in gross property tax collections.

Walworth County Administrator Dave Bretl said schools are having a hard time keeping taxes low because of cuts in state aid. Meanwhile, population growth has required more services from municipal and county governments.

“Not to pass the buck to other taxing jurisdictions, but the county has been trying to do its part to keep taxes in line,” Bretl said.

Walworth is followed in gross property tax levy increases by Kenosha County at 6 percent, Milwaukee County at 5.9 percent, Racine County at 5.2 percent, Waukesha and Washington counties at 3.8 percent and Ozaukee County at 2.9 percent.

According to the report, each of the seven counties had an overall property tax rate increase. Of the 146 municipalities in the region, 112 saw rates go up.

Genoa City and Elkhorn were the only two Walworth County municipalities to place in the top 10 for both gross tax levy and gross tax rate increases.

Elkhorn had the fourth-highest gross tax levy increase at 11.3 percent and the sixth-highest gross tax rate at $1.18.

Genoa City led the 146 municipalities in southeastern Wisconsin in both gross tax levy increase at 16.4 percent and gross tax rate increase at $2.53.

Genoa City Village Board President Barry Goad said he was surprised to hear about the numbers.

Goad said taxes at other municipalities around Genoa City have “gone through the roof” while he believes his village has done quite the opposite.

Elkhorn City Administrator Sam Tapson said city officials have invested in capital improvements, and paying off the debt has caused local tax levy to increase.

Tapson cited several projects Elkhorn officials have undertaken in the last couple years, including about $2 million borrowed to reconstruct sewer systems on Church and Wisconsin streets, $1.5 million for a storm water management system and about $2 million for a new police facility.

“There is nothing among the capital projects considered somehow frivolous,” he said. “When you’re committed to rebuilding streets, and sewer systems, these are things we should be doing.

“At some point, you just have to pay that cost.”