I have a question for you. How do you spend a building? It’s an odd question, I confess. But it is important because the governmental bodies that control your property taxes seem to think that somehow, you can “spend” your home or business.
Between 2020 and 2024 (propertytaxbystate.com data) the median property tax bill in Rock County rose 18.3% as property values skyrocketed. The trouble is, you and I don’t have any realized gains on the increase in the property value until we sell it. Yet taxing authorities seem to feel justified in taking an increasingly bigger share of your expendable (and often fixed) income through property taxes without your financial resources rising at all. In fact, your income could even decrease, but the increasing value of your property, which you cannot spend, has the government’s hand deeper in your wallet.
Most of us support our schools. We want our kids to have the resources they need. But we also need to pay the mortgage or rent and all our other bills. When those two thoughts collide, it puts citizens in a financial dilemma. If people vote for their own self-preservation by not approving a voluntary rise in their property taxes, one can hardly blame them.
When promoting the passage of a tax-increasing referendum, there’s often a lot of fear-mongering that accompanies the dialog. “We’ll have to cut services”, “The kids will suffer”, “Class sizes will increase”. Over the years of that 18-percent property tax increase (along with nearly everything else increasing in cost), not once have I heard about what meaningful adjustments those taxing entities are making to continue to only spend what they take in. Instead, I often hear of how the sky will fall if I don’t make another personal sacrifice and approve another referendum.
The property tax questions from school districts are widely known, and expected. In Rock County, our two biggest districts have different track records. Residents of the Beloit School District have stopped three consecutive attempts to raise their taxes by referendum. Residents of Janesville have thus far supported their district’s referendums, while another decision hangs in the balance on November 3rd.
It doesn’t stop there. As residents consider whether they can absorb a tax increase from Janesville Schools, the City of Janesville is telegraphing the idea THEY may also come to taxpayers for extra dollars as soon as late 2027. A referendum question there would also seek to increase your property taxes to “maintain service levels.”
Things have gotten so out of control that many people report paying more for their property tax bills now than they did for their house payments when they purchased their home. I’m in that boat. My first mortgage payments were 25-dollars a month less than what I now have to self-escrow for my property taxes.
Residents often sacrifice to continue funding the functions of education and local government. They cut back on “nice-to-have” expenses and figure out how to spend only what they make on things they “must have.” They have no way to apply a simple (property value reassessment and tax levies) formula and magically increase our income so they can “maintain their lifestyle”. In short, they can’t ‘spend their property’. Shouldn’t we hold governmental taxing authorities to the same standard? We’ll find out what the public thinks, at least for this round of referendums, when the votes are tallied November 3rd.
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RCF’s Mission: Empower the citizens of Rock County to preserve freedom & liberty through education and government accountability.
Even though local Party members may tell you otherwise, RCF is not affiliated with any political party. Rather, RCF is focused on building powerful, non-partisan local coalitions to address local needs! For example; strong local education, responsible taxation, individual opportunity and public safety, to name a few. Come join us and make a difference, locally!
Ever consider running for local office? Candidate paperwork from the county typically appears in November. It is a big decision to run, but the time is now to decide whether you are willing and able to serve your local community as an elected local officer. Our RCF Candidate and Campaign committee (part of the Rock County First Political Fund) can help people who are considering a run for local office to think through the details of what to consider, and what it will take to win. We are here to help!
Here is what you can do in the before before December:
- Visit our Candidate and Campaign webpage to find helpful pre-candidacy information.
- Someone from the team is willing to meet with individuals who may be considering running for the first time. Fill out the contact form at the bottom of the webpage and someone will reach out to assist you.
