Unclear where to find the bottom line on what is means for the city in terms of revenue. The best I could tell was that the total assessments went down in 2009 by 1.0%, in 2010 by 1.7% and in 2011 by 0.8%.
From: Hanson, Mark
Sent: Friday, April 15, 2011 1:07 PM
To: ALL ALDERS
Subject: 2011 Property Assessments for the City of MadisonThe notices of changes in assessments for 2011 are being mailed to property owners today. Assessment notices are mailed only when assessments have changed, up or down, from the 2010 value. Of the 73,663 parcels in the City, 45% are being changed (3,808 increases and 29,326 reductions).
Assessment statistics about the City of Madison can be viewed on our homepage at http://www.cityofmadison.com/assessor/tax.cfm. Also, I’ve included a copy of the report “Assessment by Aldermanic District” with this message.
Property owners may inspect the 2011 preliminary assessment roll at the Office of the City Assessor on business days between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. from April 18 through May 6. This “Open Book” inspection period is set aside to correct obvious clerical errors, which were made in compiling the assessment roll.
Property owners who wish to compare assessments may use the assessment reports located in the lobby of the Office of the City Assessor. Information is listed in address order and shows ownership, lot size, building data, assessment and tax information. The assessment roll may be viewed on a CD at the Main Library. Assessment/tax data is also posted on the Internet at www.cityofmadison.com/assessor/. The information that is available includes owner’s name and address, address of the property, legal description, sales information, as well as details about physical characteristics. In addition, sales comparables by assessment area are available on our web page.
Owners who disagree with their assessment should personally discuss it with the appraiser who set the value. If an error was made or if there is evidence that the assessment does not reflect the actual fair market value of the property, we would welcome the opportunity to review all pertinent facts. The best evidence of value is a recent sale of the property or the sale prices of comparable properties.
After talking with the Assessor’s Office, owners who still feel that the assessed value of their property is incorrect may file a formal objection. The Assessor’s Office must be notified, either orally or in writing, of intent to object at least 48 hours before the first meeting of the Board of Review. The Board’s first scheduled meeting is Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at 1:30 PM. Owners must notify the Assessor’s Office of their intent to object no later than 1:30 PM, Monday, May 9, 2011. In addition, an objection form obtained from the Assessor’s Office must be completed and filed with the City Assessor’s Office prior to or within the first two hours of the first meeting of the Board of Review.
The Board of Assessors will review all properly filed objections and make any necessary corrections or changes. The Board will inform owners of its decisions by mail.
Owners who disagree with these decisions may proceed to a formal hearing before the Board of Review. Similar to a court, the Board has the responsibility for resolving differences of opinion of valuation. Its function is to decide if the assessment is correct based upon oral testimony and evidence presented by the property owner and the Assessor’s staff. After hearing the evidence, the Board may decide to lower, raise or sustain the assessment.
Board of Review decisions may be appealed to the Circuit Court of Dane County.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks –Mark
