Wisconsin property taxpayers continue to get a break on their bills, due to a credit from the state Lottery. However, the size of that credit is down this year.
The state Department of Revenue's Jessica Iverson says the average credit is down to $77 this year, dropping from an average of $86 on 2007 property tax bills.
How much of a credit property taxpayers receive is based on the school district they reside in.
The Wisconsin State Lottery just celebrated its 20th anniversary. The first tickets were sold in September of 1988, after voters approved a Constitutional amendment legalizing the games under the promise of property tax relief.
Mike Birkley of Wisconsin Property Taxpayers Incorporated says the credit may have been oversold to people when the Lottery was approved. He says the rate has been declining in recent years, but the credit is still welcome by many homeowners.