Act 10 has been the law of the land in Wisconsin since 2011, surviving every legal and political challenge—until now. In 2024, a liberal Dane County judge overturned the landmark law, throwing Wisconsin’s financial future into uncertainty. Now, as the state Supreme Court prepares to weigh in, voters need to understand the real consequences of losing Act 10.

One unavoidable outcome? Massive increases in property taxes. If Act 10 is struck down, every homeowner in Wisconsin will see higher property taxes. The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) has developed a property tax calculator to show just how much homeowners could be on the hook for, making it a must-use tool ahead of the April election.

WILL’s research estimates that repealing Act 10 would add $1.788 billion in new expenses for school districts alone. That figure is backed by a second independent methodology, which arrived at a nearly identical cost estimate of $1.6 billion. The findings highlight a fundamental reality: without Act 10’s limits on collective bargaining, school districts and local governments will be forced to shift these skyrocketing costs onto taxpayers.

To reach these figures, WILL’s analysis used publicly available data from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), focusing on the two biggest cost drivers—healthcare and retirement benefits. Act 10 required public employees to contribute 50% toward their pension benefits and at least 12.6% toward their health insurance costs. If those provisions disappear, taxpayers will be left covering the difference.

By inflation-adjusting 2009 salary and benefit costs to 2024 dollars, WILL’s tool allows homeowners to see just how much they stand to lose. The numbers are staggering. For example, if you live in the City of Milwaukee, you can expect an annual increase of $1,310.54 on a $300,000 home on your property tax bill. If you’re in Oshkosh expect a $1,600 tax increase on a 300k home. These increases do not include other property tax increases through referendums, and local property tax increases. The tool allows you to adjust based on the value of your home. 

As Wisconsin voters prepare for an election that could determine the fate of Act 10, the importance of this tool cannot be overstated. Those who own homes, pay property taxes, or simply care about the financial stability of their communities should take a hard look at the reality WILL has laid out. The fight over Act 10 isn’t just a legal debate—it’s a direct hit to the pocketbooks of Wisconsin families.

You can check out the tool here. Just click down on your school district and adjust for the estimated value of your home and you can review the estimated annual property tax increase.