Assessor

Assessed Value: The total value assigned to your property by the assessor. It includes both the land and any structures (homes, garages, sheds, etc.) on it.

Assessment: The process of determining the market value of a property for tax purposes. It reflects what your property would likely sell for on the open market as of January 1 of the assessment year.

Board of Review: A formal process where you can appeal your assessment if you disagree after Open Book. You must first attend or attempt to resolve your concern during Open Book.

Comparable Sales: Sales of properties that are similar to yours in size, location, age, and style. Used by assessors to determine fair market value.

Equalized Value: A market-adjusted value calculated by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue to ensure fairness across municipalities. Used mainly to distribute state aid and compare values across districts.

Improvement Value (Imp/Bldgs): The value of buildings or structures on your property. This is added to the land value to calculate the total assessed value.

Land Value: The value of your lot alone, excluding any buildings or improvements.

Mill Rate: A tax rate applied to your assessed value. Calculated by dividing the total tax levy by the total assessed value of all properties in the jurisdiction. As assessed values go up, mill rates often go down.

Open Book: A period during which you can informally discuss your property value with the assessor. You may share evidence such as recent appraisals, property changes, or comparable sales.

Revaluation: A complete update of all property values within the municipality to reflect current market conditions, typically based on sales from the prior year.

Total Assessed Value: The combined value of your land and improvements. This number is used to calculate your property taxes.