Town Hall · Portage

Portage, WI town hall & government

Portage spent $18.2 million in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,750 per resident.

Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Portage's government.

Local leadership

Who runs Portage

From public records (Open States and Wikidata), which can lag behind an election. If a name is out of date, tell us: when two neighbors agree, it's hidden until the records catch up.

Town budget

Where Portage's money goes

Spent
$18.2 million
fiscal year to December 31, 2022
Per resident
$1,750
typical Wisconsin cities: $2,033
Long-term debt
$29.1 million
$2,800 per resident
Police
$3.1 million17%
Roads & transportation
$3 million17%
Parks & libraries
$2.6 million14%
Sewer & trash
$2.4 million13%
Water & other utilities
$1.9 million10%
Fire
$1.4 million8%
Administration & buildings
$1.1 million6%
Interest on debt
$730,0004%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$239,0001%
Housing & development
$102,0001%
Health & welfare
$11,000<1%
Other
$1.7 million9%

Where the money comes from

  • Property taxes 32%
  • From the state 27%
  • Fees & charges 13%
  • Interest, fines & other 11%
  • Utility sales 10%
  • From other local governments 4%
  • From the federal government 1%
  • Other taxes & licenses 1%
  • Sales taxes 1%
Town workforce

Who works for Portage

Full-time staff
78
37 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$63,700
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
24
and 6 full-time firefighters
Police
28 full-time6 part
Parks & libraries
12 full-time16 part
Roads & transportation
14 full-time
Administration & buildings
7 full-time10 part
Fire
7 full-time
Water & other utilities
5 full-time1 part
Sewer & trash
4 full-time
Courts, inspections & corrections
1 full-time1 part
Other
0 full-time3 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2022. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Portage Community School District

Portage's K–12 school district, shared with Endeavor, Fort Winnebago, Moundville, Lewiston, Caledonia and Pacific. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$15,698
Wisconsin: $16,459
Students
2,058
in the whole district
Long-term debt
None
at year end

Where the district's money comes from Wisconsin districts overall: 39% local, 50% state, 11% federal

  • Local 37%
  • State 52%
  • Federal 10%

Of the $15,698 per pupil, $8,273 goes to classroom instruction (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to support services such as buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren't in the per-pupil figure.

Property tax

What homeowners in Portage pay

Typical tax bill
$3,331
a year · Wisconsin typical $3,792
Effective rate
1.63%
of home value · Wisconsin 1.42%
Typical home value
$204,900
owner-occupied

The median yearly bill homeowners report, covering every local property tax on the home (town, schools, county). The effective rate is that bill divided by the median home value, so it's a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Local

Contact Portage's government

🏛️ Official websiteci.portage.wi.us ↗

Town hall & decisions in Portage →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Portage

Portage is represented in Congress by Senators Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin and Representative Glenn Grothman. Tony Evers is governor.

All of Portage's representatives, with contacts →

Budget: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Finance (every city and town government's revenue, spending and debt, grouped into plain categories). Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.

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Portage

Wisconsin · WI
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