Milwaukee homeowners are being asked to consider a cap on city and county property taxes after one resident warned escalating levies are prompting people to leave the city and could lead to payment defaults.
The letter, submitted to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel by Stephen Savic, argues that property tax increases have reached a breaking point for many owners and calls on both city and county governments to limit how much they extract from homeowners.
What the letter says and why it matters
Savic tells local officials that continued increases in property taxes are driving residents away and that without a cap, some property owners may be forced to default on payments. He also notes that homeowners are not the only source of revenue for local government and urges municipal leaders to explore other ways to fill public coffers.
"It is time to put a cap on how much hard-earned money the city and county can take from property owners," Stephen Savic wrote.
The letter does not include data or cite specific tax rates, but it raises issues that touch on affordable housing, municipal budgets and the choices elected officials make when setting levy and spending priorities.
How residents can submit similar views
The Journal Sentinel provides guidance for readers who want to send letters to the editor. Those tips, as published with the letter, include clear requirements and editorial limits.
- Include your full name, street address and a daytime phone number.
- Letters are generally limited to 200 words.
- Cite sources when referencing data or other reporting that prompted the letter.
- Be civil and constructive; criticize positions, not people.
- Each writer may have one published letter every two months; anonymous letters are not accepted.
| Submission method | Details |
|---|---|
| Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Ave., Suite 500 | |
| Fax | (414) 223-5444 |
| jsedit@jrn.com |
Local officials — including members of the Milwaukee Common Council and the County Board — set levy and budget policies that affect property tax bills. The letter does not identify specific proposals for a cap or describe how such a limit would interact with state property tax rules and local obligations for services like public safety, parks and public health.
City and county residents concerned about tax levels can raise the issue with elected officials, attend budget hearings, or submit letters to local papers. The letter from Savic adds a homeowner’s voice to ongoing conversations in Milwaukee about affordability and municipal finance.
The Journal Sentinel noted that submitted letters may be edited and that the newsroom does not acknowledge receipt. The paper also discourages open or anonymous letters and poetry for publication.
