Wisconsin journalists looking for data to explain how cities and villages manage taxpayer dollars now have a new resource at their fingertips.
The Wisconsin Policy Forum’s 2026 Municipal DataTool provides access to financial information for Wisconsin municipalities, allowing journalists to examine and compare communities across the state. The tool makes complicated municipal financial data more accessible and useful for reporting.
The data can help journalists investigate trends in municipal revenues, debt and property taxes, as well as compare individual communities with others across Wisconsin.
One area highlighted in the 2026 data is the impact of the state’s shared revenue program. Following passage of the 2023 Wisconsin Act 12, shared revenue aid to cities and villages increased 19.3% in 2024, reaching $901.5 million — an increase of $146 million. The average per-capita shared revenue amount increased 18.3% to $204.
The tool also shows how municipalities are handling debt. General obligation debt grew 5% in 2024 to $9.24 billion, the largest proportional increase since 2020. At the same time, 57.9% of municipalities with general obligation debt reduced their borrowing in 2024.
That information can give journalists a starting point for local stories: How does a community’s debt compare with neighboring municipalities? Has its shared revenue increased? How have local property taxes changed?
In addition, the Municipal DataTool gives insights into property taxes. In December 2025, property tax levies for cities and villages across Wisconsin increased by 4%, totaling $3.23 billion. The average per-capita levy rose 3% to $732 from the prior year. Some municipalities experienced property tax hikes exceeding 10%, while others saw decreases.
For journalists, the tool’s value goes beyond the statewide numbers. It provides a way to dig into the financial picture of individual communities and put local government decisions into context.
As local news organizations continue to look for ways to produce meaningful data-driven reporting with limited resources, tools such as the Municipal DataTool can help reporters move from raw numbers to stories that show readers how government decisions affect their communities.
The 2026 Municipal DataTool is available through the Wisconsin Policy Forum.
