Wisconsin GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Tom Tiffany said in a press conference that the annual increase of taxes is something families “fear,” urging voters to “end the 400-year property tax hike” and “bring affordability back to Wisconsin.”
The 400-year tax increase is for school-focused growth and refers to Gov. Tony Evers’ controversial partial veto in the 2023–25 budget. The move that politicians have dubbed the “400-year veto,” because it extended a temporary $325 per-student revenue-limit increase out to the year 2425. In April 2025, the Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld Evers’ use of the partial veto to extend the school funding increase through 2425.
In December, WPR said that school property tax rates climbed an average of 7.8% in 2025, helping produce the largest overall increase since at least 2018. WPR attributed the jump to voter-approved referendums and the increases to per-student revenue limits in school budgets. The Wisconsin Department of Revenue’s 2025 overview says the gross property taxes levied in 2024 for collection in 2025 totaled $13.65 billion, with schools representing the largest single share of the statewide taxes.
Tiffany draws a direct line from those higher bills to Evers decisions, especially school funding rules, and he is promising reversal if he reaches the East Wing. His campaign has specifically pledged that repealing the “400-year” change would be among his first actions as governor. (RELATED: Wisconsin Governor Race 2026: Crowley Leads Democrat Fundraising Surge)
Early campaign finance reports show Tiffany leading the Republican field financially, reporting $2,122,489 raised, with major donors and party support helping power his early advantage. Tiffany’s early fundraising strength since entering the race in late September and previous experience in Congress has provided an edge compared to some of his other GOP competitors.
The election is also crowded on the Democratic side. The candidates posted strong six-figures of fundraising and competition over who is best positioned to address their agenda. (RELATED: “Hate-Filled Proposal” Democrats Lash Out Against Ballot Initiative to Eliminate DEI)
