Important dates and deadlines for 2021.
- First day of Open Book: Monday, April 26, 2021
- Last day of Open Book: Monday, May 17, 2021
- Deadline to file an appeal: 4:45PM Monday, May 17, 2021
What is the difference between a Revaluation and a Maintenance year?
Assessments fall into two broad categories: maintenance and revaluation. Maintenance consists of utilizing the assessment roll from the previous year and updating values to the current level of assessment when changes warrant. Examples of changes include new construction, combining or splitting of parcels, remodeling, demolition, annexation and zoning changes, changes in classification, and other occurrences that might affect value or the attributes of the parcel. These changes may, or may not, result in a change in value; nonetheless each of these requires the Property Record Card (PRC) to be updated. Reliable valuation depends on reliable data so ongoing maintenance and updating of information is a high-priority responsibility for all assessors.
Why is the City completing a Maintenance assessment for 2021?
Typically, the City of Milwaukee revalues each year. Due to COVID-19 and the extent of the 2020 revaluation, the Common Council has decided that 2021 will be a Maintenance Assessment Year. No decision about returning to annual revaluations has been made.
How will a Maintenance assessment affect property owners?
On properties that do not require any data changes or corrections, the assessment should remain the same. If a property warrants a change then it may affect the assessed value. Examples of changes include new construction, combining or splitting of parcels, remodeling, demolition, annexation and zoning changes, changes in classification, and other occurrences that might affect value or the attributes of the parcel. These changes may, or may not, result in a change in assessed value.
Why did my assessment change when my neighbor’s did not?
If we discovered changes to a property that would alter the value, then the assessment would change. If we did not discover any changes, then the assessment would remain the same.
Will every property owner receive an assessment notice?
If I do not get an assessment notice, does that mean I cannot contest my assessment?
No. Property owners have the right to contest their assessment. The Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) provides many useful guides. The Guide for Property Owners describes the assessment process including Open Book and Board of Review processes.
If I believe my property value has been impacted during 2020, what should I do?
Please contact us at (414) 286-3651 and provide any additional information that you believe affect the value of your property. Information we may consider might be a cost to cure a property deficiency, actual construction cost statements, operating statements, appraisals, comparable sales, vacancy rates, income and expense statements, etc. Please provide this information as soon as possible so it may be considered as we complete the assessment roll.
If City Hall is closed, how can I attend Open Book?
Due to ongoing concerns in relation to COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, the Assessor's Office is closed to walk-in service.
We do not know what the future holds with COVID but we will still offer opportunities to attend Open Book, even though City Hall is closed.
· You may contact the Assessing Department by phone 414-286-3651 to discuss your assessment.
· You may e-mail additional information to us.
· Contact the Assessor’s Office via the Ask the Assessor web application
· Please call us to schedule an appointment if you need to meet in-person or would like a video conference.
If assessments are not changing, does that mean property tax bills also will not change?
No. The budgets for each overlying jurisdiction (City, County, MATC, School District, etc.) affect tax bills. For example, if all property values stayed the same, but the total budgets for each jurisdiction increased 3%, then all tax bills would increase 3%.