Looking at the Tax Bill

I’m sitting here going through the numbers on our property tax bill.  Overall, our property taxes are up 2.5%.  Here’s an interesting tidbit:

City of West Bend:

2008 State Aid = $3,914,415
2009 State Aid = $3,647,291
Change in State aid = (6.8%)
Change in tax = (0.5%)

West Bend School District:

2008 State Aid = $18,647,949
2009 State Aid = $18,076,808
Change in State aid = (3.06%)
Change in tax = 10.9%

State aid for only one of the taxing bodies on the property tax went up.  Moraine Park Technical College saw a 3% increase to $572,478. 
They also increased their property tax levy by 1.6%. 

Washington County saw a 2.9% decline in state aid and increased the property tax by 0.8%.

Also an interesting bit of information that I had not encountered before… we have a special assessment on our bill.  If we paid in the four installments offered (we don’t), they divide the property tax into four bites, but put the entire special assessment on the first payment.  I’m curious as to the reasoning behind that.  Anyone know? 

How are y’all’s property taxes looking out there?