Racine Unified Trumpets Tax Rate

Racine Unified Schools are expending great energy blowing their own horn over the lowest tax rate in years at $6.76, down from $7.62 last year.

A basic tax lesson for those who do not understand that while they are trying to make this sound like a tax decrease, nothing could be farther from the truth.

The tax levy is the important issue, divide that by the assessed property value, and you get the rate.

My property is assessed higher by some $26,000 this year. Comparing the new rate will still mean an 8% increase in the amount of tax I owe for RUSD this year. Yes, the lower rate will result in an 8% increase. So much for RUSD's claim that the 2nd referendum they passed just kept spending at the same rate.

Now someone, anyone, please explain to me how this is a decrease.

RUSD should cut out the bad, PR and speak the truth for a change. while many people in Racine, are products of Racine schools, some of us went to school elsewhere and are smart enough to figure this shell game out.