Understanding Your Tax Bill
Tax bills are mailed annually in mid-December. The following information will help to understand the different sections of the tax statement as it pertains to our school district.
The image below shows a 2025 tax statement with personal information removed. Each of our 4 municipalities bills might look a little different, but the same general information is provided. When you click on each letter, information will pop up with an explanation of that section. Below the tax bill you will also find a list of “Important Terms”.
Please note that our “Mill Rate” is not listed on the property tax bill. The mill rate is the tax rate per $1,000 of estimated fair market value for the school district portion of your tax bill (see calculation to the right). Our 2025-2026 mill rate (levy) rate was approved by our Board at $8.18.
EXPLANATION FOR EACH LABEL
A Referendum/Resolution - State law requires that the items listed here are displayed on Wisconsin property tax bills for each county, municipality, school district and technical college that has a temporary change in tax levy approved after December 31, 2014, by referendum or resolution. This will reflect our district's Capital Referendum that was passed in November 2024.
B Assessed Value - The total value of land and buildings, as determined by the assessor for the purpose of taxation. This figure is the sum of Land and Improvements, and it may be higher or lower than the current market value of the property. This is multiplied by the net assessed value rate (tax rate) to determine the “total net tax” that each property owner must pay for all taxing jurisdictions.
C Estimated Fair Market Value - This is the sum of the estimated fair market land and the estimated fair market improvements. This is used to multiply by the school district's mill rate to get the school district's portion of your property tax bill (see calculation above) - then the school tax levy credit is removed from that sum to get the amount listed for the school district.
D School Tax Levy Credit - This credit helps lower your property taxes, but the money doesn’t go directly to the school district. The State of Wisconsin sends these funds to your city, who then automatically applies the credit to qualifying properties. It’s one way the state helps support education while easing the tax burden for local homeowners.
E Taxing Jurisdiction - Any entity authorized by law to levy taxes on property located within its boundaries. This includes the state, the city (or other local government), the county, the local technical college, and/or the local school district (WAWM School District is noted in Orange).
F State Aid - This shows the revenue received from the state for each jurisdiction, for this and the prior year. This is impacted by the Governor's State Budget that is approved every two years and the amount of state aid the school district receives reduces the amount needed to be paid by taxpayers.
G Net Property Tax - This figure is the total property tax minus the lottery and gaming credit. (see calculation above for WAWM School Portion)
IMPORTANT TERMS
The following important terms are used on tax bills, in this document and in other written material about property taxes.
Assessed Value: The dollar value your local assessor assigns to your property for tax purposes.
Assessment Ratio: A percentage from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue that compares assessed value to actual market value.
Equalized Value: The estimated market value of all taxable property within the school district, used by the state to ensure fair tax distribution.
Fair Market Value: The price your property would likely sell for between a willing buyer and seller under normal market conditions.
Levy: The total amount of property taxes collected by a local government or school district to fund services.
Taxation District: Your city, village, or town. If a community crosses county lines, each portion is treated as a separate taxation district.
Taxing Jurisdiction: Any government body that collects property taxes within its boundaries. This includes the State of Wisconsin, Milwaukee County, the City of West Allis, the West Allis–West Milwaukee School District, and Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC).
Equalized Value: The estimated market value of all taxable property within the school district, used by the state to ensure fair tax distribution.
Fair Market Value: The price your property would likely sell for between a willing buyer and seller under normal market conditions.
Levy: The total amount of property taxes collected by a local government or school district to fund services.
Taxation District: Your city, village, or town. If a community crosses county lines, each portion is treated as a separate taxation district.
Taxing Jurisdiction: Any government body that collects property taxes within its boundaries. This includes the State of Wisconsin, Milwaukee County, the City of West Allis, the West Allis–West Milwaukee School District, and Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC).
Please use the tax bill calculator below.
Type in the dollar amount listed under 2025 Net Tax for the WEST ALLIS/W MIL SCH DIST.
For reference, see the highlighted number on the image below.
$
2025
Net Tax
Amount of Taxes used for:
Private School Vouchers
$0.00
→ 16.27%
Referendum: Teacher & Staff Compensation
$0.00
→ 10.15%
Referendum: Facilities
$0.00
→ 5.42%