Mill Rates Explanation
The Eau Claire City Council recently finalized the 2023 city operating budget, which includes the mill rate number. The mill rate is used to determine property taxes. One mill is the same as $1 in property tax levied per $1,000 of a property’s assessed value. Mill rates are used to cover expenses in the city budget such as roads, schools and other public services. In Eau Claire mill rates come from the city, county, school district and Chippewa Valley Technical College. To find your mill rates you multiply the rate by the property value of your house and divide by 1,000.
Due to changes in where sales tax is going and Wisconsin state statutes, there has been declining state aid, meaning the city has a structural deficit. This led to the City Council referendum question in the fall election asking to raise property taxes to fund positions in emergency services. This referendum did pass allowing for these positions to be added to the General Fund budget.
Comparison of Local Mill Rates
Bellow is a chart with the approximate mill rates per $1,000 for an individual living in the city and school district of Eau Claire, an individual living in the city and school district of Altoona, and someone living in the town of Washington and the Eau Claire school district. There are also examples of what property taxes would look like in the different scenarios with a property value of $200,000.
| City of Eau Claire living in Eau Claire School District | City of Altoona living in Altoona School District | Town of Washington living in Eau Claire School District | |
| Eau Claire County | 3.75 | 3.53 | 5.37 |
| City of Eau Claire | 7.66 | – | – |
| City of Altoona | – | 5.97 | – |
| Town of Washington | – | – | 1.62 |
| Eau Claire School District | 6.80 | – | 6.78 |
| Altoona School District | – | 7.77 | – |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College | 0.77 | 0.67 | 0.93 |
| Total | 18.98 | 17.94 | 14.70 |
Example of Someone Living in the City of Eau Claire and the Eau Claire School District with a Property Value of $200,000
| Mill Rate Per $1,000 | Amount Taxed | |
| Eau Claire County | 3.75 | $750 |
| City of Eau Claire | 7.66 | $1,532 |
| Eau Claire School District | 6.80 | $1,360 |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College | 0.77 | $154 |
| Total | 18.98 | $3,796 |
Someone living in the City of Altoona and the Altoona School District with a Property Value of $200,000
| Mill Rate Per $1,000 | Amount Taxed | |
| Eau Claire County | 3.53 | $706 |
| City of Altoona | 5.97 | $1,194 |
| Altoona School District | 7.77 | $1,554 |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College | 0.67 | $134 |
| Total | 17.94 | $3,588 |
Someone Living in the Town of Washington and in the Eau Claire School District with a Property Value of $200,000
| Mill Rate Per $1,000 | Amount Taxed | |
| Eau Claire County | 5.37 | $1,074 |
| Town of Washington | 1.62 | $324 |
| Eau Claire School District | 6.78 | $1,356 |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College | 0.92 | $184 |
| Total | 14.70 | $2,940 |
Posted by Emily Johnston and Mallory Williams, Governmental Affairs Interns
johnston@eauclairechamber.org williams@eauclairechamber.org