Oh surprise, surprise, surprise: both major-party candidates in Wisconsin's gubernatorial race -- Democrat Jim Doyle and Republican Mark Green -- said that they will run on platforms emphasizing a "property tax freeze." Pardon me if I’m not filled with overwhelming enthusiasm because all campaign talk about property tax relief is simply flaming Barbara Streisand.
Governor's Race And Property Taxes: According to the non-partisan Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, property taxes have increased an average of 4.5 percent each year during Doyle's term. Last year was the lowest in recent history, with an increase of 2.3 percent. Doyle accomplished the modest increase by greatly increasing the funding for schools by more than $900 million. He essentially bought down the property tax with money from the state's transportation fund. Doyle argued that he provided relief without harming education.
Real change requires real change and meaningful property tax relief requires transforming it into a finite sales tax, payable over time. Imposing an open ended obligation on land ownership is wrong and stare decisis does not make permanent indebtedness to the state correct. Wisconsin voters still have the lingering flavor of TABOR and the bitterness should clue people that the direction to take is not attempting to limit spending, but rather to limit an individual’s obligation to pay.
