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���The meeting aims to provide a platform for residents to voice their concerns and collaborate on potential actions to address these excessive tax increases,��� with the city portion of the tax bills of many Whitewater property owners rising by 25% over last year, the release said.

Since 2021, some property owners have seen their tax bills rise by more than 60%, the release said.

���Out-of-control property taxes hurt everyone in our community,��� said a spokesperson for the Whitewater Common Sense Citizens. ���This includes people on fixed incomes, homeowners, renters, property owners, and business owners. We must come together to discuss these concerns and find solutions.���

Referendums

The 2026 city of Whitewater budget and recently mailed property tax bills are reflective of two local referendums approved by voters last April.

Voters in the city of Whitewater approved a $1.3 million police, fire and EMS referendum, giving a green light to the city to add five police officers, two fire and EMS personnel, a dispatcher and necessary equipment.

Whitewater Unified School District voters approved the $30 million capital referendum clearing the way for various upgrades at schools throughout the district.

City referendum

Voters approved the city referendum with 54% of the vote. The final vote tallies between Walworth and Jefferson counties were 1,880 to 1,599. The Jefferson County portion of the city voted in favor of the referendum 303-290, In Walworth County, 1,577 voted in favor of the referendum and 1,599 voted it down.

Most of the city lies within Walworth County, with some of it lying in Jefferson County. In Walworth County, the impact of the referendum for the owner of the median home valued at $240,100 will be $283.32. In Jefferson County, on the same median home, the impact will be $220.89.

School referendum

The school district referendum won with 52% of the vote between Jefferson, Rock and Walworth counties.