Under Wisconsin State Statutes, the Milwaukee City Charter, and Milwaukee Code of Ordinances, the City Treasurer is responsible for the collection of property taxes, including delinquent taxes, for all six taxing jurisdictions within the City.

The City Treasurer has been extremely successful in the collection of property taxes and has achieved an average collection rate of over 99% of the City's total property tax levy by the end of the tax enforcement cycle. This is one of the best property tax collection rates in the country. 

The City Treasurer attempts to collect all delinquent property tax accounts by every means available prior to pursuing a foreclosure action. This approach has reduced the number of tax delinquent parcels acquired through foreclosure, reducing the City's property management costs. The number of parcels foreclosed has decreased from 2,755 in 2001 to 508 in 2008, while the average tax collection rate remains over 99%.