Wauwatosa officials present 2026 budget overview; estimate municipal tax bill to rise about 8.2%

Wauwatosa City finance staff told the Committee of the Whole on Sept. 30 that the average municipal portion of a Wauwatosa tax bill is currently estimated to rise about 8.21% — roughly $176 — in 2026, a figure that officials said could change as the property revaluation and Board of Review work continues.

The estimate and the budget overview were delivered by John Regini, the city’s finance director, who said the increase is driven by a 2% proposed property tax levy combined with an assessed value increase of nearly 50%, offset by an estimated 31% decline in the tax rate. “Our estimate right now is this average tax bill for a Wauwatosa resident for the municipal portion of the bill will go up by 8.21% or approximate $176,” Regini said. He added the estimate may change over the next several weeks as the Board of Review completes its work.

Why it matters: property taxes make up the bulk of the city’s general fund and few alternative local revenue tools exist, officials said. Regini said property taxes account for about 69% of the general fund and that roughly 73% of expenditures fund front-line services such as police, fire and public works — areas where reductions would be most likely to affect residents.

Key service and budget items - Yard waste collection: The 2026 draft keeps the April–October collection season but reduces curbside pickup from twice a month to once a month. To offset the reduced collection frequency, residents may use the city’s drop-off center at no charge (the drop-off was previously $5) or purchase a larger wheeled yard-waste cart for storage between…