'Promise Kept' Scott Walker Touts Zero Percent Property Tax Bill

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has been touring the state this week, touting his tax reform policies that will eliminate the state portion of the property tax bill in 2018 — the first year this has happened since 1931.

"Because of the growth we've had in the budget, because of the positive economy, the fact that more people are working than before - all those things put us in a good position. Not only to cover this, but, as I mentioned, to put more dollars in our classrooms than ever before, to make all the other investments we've done this budget," Walker said in a Wednesday trip to Eau Claire.

Walker promised earlier in his governorship that he would lower property taxes for homeowners. Politifact took a look at Walker's claim as it related to his property tax cut. They found that the 2010 property tax bill for a median-value home was $2,963, and his agency estimates the bill will be $2,824 in 2018 — a reduction of $139.

While this may be true, Politifact also found out that some people will actually have their taxes go up. Jon Peacock, director of the nonprofit Wisconsin Budget Project, told Politifact that funding has been reduced for the state Homestead Tax Credit, which was designed to provide property tax relief to low-income homeowners and renters. About 11,400 households will see property tax increases averaging $614 per year.

Image Via Gov. Walker's office via Twitter