How are property tax rates determined in Wisconsin?

Property tax rates in Wisconsin are set by each taxing district (municipality, school district, park district, library, etc.) based on their annual levy (the amount of tax revenue they need). The rate is calculated by dividing the levy by the total assessed value of all property in the district.

What is the composite tax rate?

The composite tax rate is the sum of all overlapping taxing district rates that apply to a specific property. A typical property may be taxed by several overlapping districts. The composite rate determines your total tax bill when multiplied by your property's assessed value.

Why do tax rates vary within the same town?

Properties within the same municipality can have different composite rates because overlapping districts (school, park, fire, library) have different boundaries. A home in one school district may have a different rate than a home two blocks away in a different school district.

De Soto, WI Property Tax Rate 2026 — Full Breakdown by District

Showing latest tax year with year-over-year changes. Full rate history available with a paid plan. View plans →

Property Tax — Tax Year 2025 (payable 2026)i

WI DOR Property Tax Statistics

Composite Ratei

7.8225%-2.4%YoY

Municipal Portioni

0.8469%-2.2%YoY10.8% of total

Effective Ratei

1.49%

Est. Annual Taxi

$2K$199/mo

Median Home Valuei

$160,700

Rate Trend — click a year to explorei

20242025

Municipal

Other Districts

Where Your Tax Dollar Goesi

$0.43 De Soto 73 School District - Operating Funds-Schools

$0.13 De Soto 73 School District - Debt Service

$0.12 St. Louis County Special School District - Operating Funds-Schools

$0.05 City of De Soto - General Revenue

$0.04 City of De Soto - Library

$0.04 Mineral Area College - General Revenue

$0.04 Jefferson County - Police

$0.04 Jefferson College - General Revenue

$0.03 St. Louis Community College - General Revenue

$0.03 Jefferson County - Road & Bridge

$0.02 Mineral Area College - Debt Service

$0.01 City of De Soto - Parks & Recreation

$0.01 Jefferson County - Developmental Dis. Board

$0.01 Jefferson County - Mental Health

$0.00 Jefferson County - Parks & Recreation

$0.00 Jefferson County - General Revenue

Estimated Tax by Home Valuei

$50K

$743

$62/mo

$100K

$1,486

$124/mo

$150K

$2,229

$186/mo

$200K

$2,973

$248/mo

$250K

$3,716

$310/mo

$300K

$4,459

$372/mo

$350K

$5,202

$434/mo

Highlighted value is closest to median home value ($161K)

16 Overlapping Taxing Districtsi

De Soto 73 School District - Operating Funds-Schools

43.3%3.3899%

De Soto 73 School District - Debt Service

12.5%0.9801%

St. Louis County Special School District - Operating Funds-Schools

11.5%0.8993%

City of De Soto - General Revenuei

5.3%0.4121%

City of De Soto - Libraryi

4.2%0.3296%

Mineral Area College - General Revenue

4.1%0.3223%

Jefferson County - Policei

4%0.3096%

Jefferson College - General Revenue

3.9%0.3084%

St. Louis Community College - General Revenue

3.1%0.2442%

Jefferson County - Road & Bridgei

2.5%0.1969%

Mineral Area College - Debt Service

1.7%0.1300%

City of De Soto - Parks & Recreationi

1.3%0.1052%

Jefferson County - Developmental Dis. Boardi

1.1%0.0848%

Jefferson County - Mental Healthi

1.1%0.0848%

Jefferson County - Parks & Recreationi

0.3%0.0253%

Jefferson County - General Revenuei

0%0.0000%