Fiscal Responsibility

A strong economy, resulting in few vacant lots, creates the required income for our city.  We need to use that funding well, or return it to our tax payers through lower taxes.  Glendale has a strong tax base with a mix of industry, commercial, and residential.  Yet, in 2016, Milwaukee County's average property tax rate is 2.56%, while Ozaukee County's is 1.65%, Washington County is 1.69%, and Brookfield County is 1.67%, (per SmartAsset).   This clearly is a disadvantage when competing with other cities in metro-Milwaukee with a similar suburban feel.  Reviewing my most recent property tax bill for 2024, I pay 2.04% of my property value to taxes. 

Of that, the biggest piece of the pie goes to our local schools, at 42%, which is governed by the Nicolet and Glendale / River Hills School boards. Following them is City tax at 27% (we as city council members have control over this) followed by 21% to Milwaukee County.  So just under 50% goes to city and county government. You can review a city budget from the Glendale website here. 

The rest goes to Metro Sewer, the State, and then some comes back from the county on sales tax credits.  So, all in, the city itself takes about 0.61% of my home per year.  All these taxing jurisdictions feel like "death by a thousand cuts".  For that reason, I feel each decision we make needs to have a clear need (and a question of if we're getting the best value for the cost) or a long-term positive return on investment.