Every few years, the City of La Crosse updates property values across the board. It’s called a revaluation, and it’s sold as a neutral process. But here’s what they don’t want you to understand: when your assessed value climbs, your tax bill climbs — even if the mill rate stays the same.
The Truth About Property Taxes
Let’s start with a fact that gets buried in all the talking points:
The State of Wisconsin collects zero property tax.
Every dollar you pay in property tax stays local — set and spent by your city, your county, your school district, and Western Technical College. When your tax bill rises, it’s because of choices made right here.
Your tax bill is based on a simple formula:
Mill rate × Assessed value = Your property tax owed
The Mill Rate — The Trick in Plain Sight
Here’s where they play games. On your property tax statement, the mill rate looks like a tiny, harmless decimal — that’s no accident. They want that number to look small so you don’t question it.
But that decimal represents the tax per $1,000 of your home’s assessed value. To see what you’re really being charged, multiply that decimal by 1,000. That’s how many dollars you’re paying for every $1,000 the assessor claims your property is worth.
So when your assessed value goes up — even if the mill rate stays flat — your tax bill increases. That’s the shell game.
Who’s Setting That Bill
The total tax you owe comes from mill rates set by:
- The City of La Crosse
- La Crosse County (which also assesses your property)
- The La Crosse School District
- Western Technical College (an unelected taxing body)
Each one takes its cut. The more your assessment grows, the bigger that cut gets — without them ever having to raise the mill rate.
The Bottom Line
They’ll say, “We didn’t raise your taxes.” But if your assessed value rises, your bill rises. The mill rate didn’t have to change at all. That’s how they pull in more money without owning up to raising taxes.
If your assessment notice looks inflated, you have the right to challenge it — and you should. This is your money, your home, and your fight.
If you want help breaking down your statement, let me know. I’ll help you expose the numbers for what they really are.
