The local government's assessment of my house has been raised to $172,000, from $157,800. By state law, houses must be re-assessed ever 4 (or 3?) years. Last year's property tax on this house is $4,426, but this includes garbage pickup, and some other fees that areas charge separately. This ends up being about a 2.8% tax (per year) on the value of your house.
You think you own your house? Don't pay your property tax, and we'll see who owns it! That's why I call my property tax the "rent" I pay to Government. Sure this is a distortion of the English language, but in effect, it is true!!
On top of this, in Milwaukee County we have a 5.6% sales tax, and Wisconsin state income tax rates of 6.5 and 6.75%. Oh yes, and one of the highest gas taxes in the land. Gasoline was about 1.69/gallon here yesterday.
Wisconsin ranks 48 out of 50 in state and local taxes, (only Maine and NY are worse)
http://taxfoundation.org/press-bestworststates.html