Nice to see that freeze working

Governor Doyle's tax freeze is certainly working miracles. After all, who woulda thunk a "freeze" meant an increase in the tax levy of 6.36%? Welcome to St. Croix county.

The new budget will raise the tax levy 6.36%, a percentage based on new construction in the county and the maximum allowed under state law. The property tax levy of $22.2 million will help support an $86.1 million budget.

The tax rate will drop 5.4%. But since the value of existing property increased, residents won't see a corresponding drop in the amount they pay. Under the new rate, the owner of a $200,000 house will pay about $615 for county purposes.

This "tax freeze" has a whole lotta taxpayers getting burned.