MADISON – Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) today applauded a Waukesha County Circuit Court decision to strike down “fire protection fees” imposed by the Villages of Pewaukee and Dousman.
The WMC Litigation Center filed the lawsuit in 2024 on behalf of WMC, two businesses, and a taxpayer, arguing the charges were unlawful because they were imposed as annual, village-wide assessments rather than per-call fees required under state law. The lawsuit maintained that the villages were using these so-called “fire protection fees” as an illegal tax on Wisconsin taxpayers. Last week, the court agreed with the WMC Litigation Center and struck down the fees, ruling that the charges were unlawful property taxes.
“While Wisconsin families and employers suffer from the eighth-highest property taxes in the nation, this ruling delivers a much-needed win for taxpayers across the state,” said WMC Executive Vice President of Government Relations Scott Manley. “This case was about protecting taxpayers from unlawful taxation schemes, and the ruling sends a clear message that the government must follow the law when seeking additional revenue.”
