Office Hours

Monday through Thursday, 7:00am - 5:30pm 

Responsible for the county's real property listing and associated assessment functions, the Real Property Lister Office supplies  parcel based land information to both land information professionals and to the general public.

It also reviews parcel mapping activities, acts as a repository for the County Surveyor files and operates as a liaison between the county and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.

PLEASE NOTE:  Information provided on these pages is subject to change without notice.  All information is supplied “as is”.  We do not certify the authenticity or accuracy of any information.  No warranties, expressed or implied, are made regarding the accuracy, completeness, suitability, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information on this or other linked pages or sites.  The use of the information is solely at your own risk and without our liability of any kind.  In no event shall Washington County be liable for any damages, whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, consequential, incidental, special  or any claim for attorney fees, arising out of the user inability to use the information provided. 

Common Assessment Questions:

THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS

What is a revaluation?
A revaluation is a complete and thorough review of all assessments. During a revaluation all assessments are examined and adjustments are made where necessary to guarantee that all property is assessed at market value. This is done to assure that taxes are distributed equitably and uniformly. Wisconsin Law requires all municipalities to assess property at market value at least once every five years.

What is the assessor's role?
The assessor is a State certified individual whose duties are to discover, list and place a value on all taxable real and personal property in the municipality, in a uniform manner. The assessor is not involved in the collection of property taxes.

How does the assessor value property?
Wisconsin Law requires that property assessments be based on fair market value. Estimating the market value of your property is a matter of determining the price a typical buyer would pay for it in its present condition. Some factors the assessor considers are: what similar properties are selling for, what it would cost to replace your property, the rent it may earn, and any other factors that affect value.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE ASSESSOR DOES NOT CREATE THIS VALUE, BUT RATHER INTERPRETS WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE MARKET PLACE.

What is Market value?
Market value is defined as the amount a typical, well-informed purchaser would be willing to pay for a property. The seller and buyer must be unrelated, the seller must be willing, but not under pressure to sell and the buyer must be willing, but not under any obligation to buy. The property must be on the market for a reasonable length of time, the payment must be in cash or its equivalent, and the financing must be typical for that type of property. If all of these conditions are present, this would be a market value, arm's-length sale.

Can the assessment on my property be changed even if the assessor has not been inside my property?
To make a proper assessment on a building, it is desirable for the assessor to see the inside and outside of the property. The law requires that the property be valued from actual view or the best information available. The assessor keeps records on the physical characteristics of each property in the municipality. Even though the assessor may have been unable to go through your property, the assessment will still be reviewed, based on the existing records and the sales of similar properties.

Will I be penalized if I don't let the assessor in when an inspection is requested?
When an interior inspection is not allowed, the assessor will attempt to update the records by looking at the property from the outside and using any other available information. To ensure an accurate assessment, it is to your advantage to allow the assessor inside your property when an inspection is requested. By denying an inspection, you may lose the right to appeal your assessment to the Board of Review.

I have recently built a new home. Will the construction costs be considered?
Your construction cost is an historical figure which may or may not reflect the current market value of your property. It is only one element that will be considered.

What will happen to my assessment if I improve my property?
Generally speaking, improvements that increase the market value of a property will increase the assessed value. The following are typical items that will increase the assessed value or your property:
• Added rooms or garages
• Replacing older siding with aluminum or vinyl siding
• Substantial modernization of kitchens or baths
• Central air conditioning
• Fireplaces
• Extensive remodeling

Will my assessment go up if I repair my property?
Good maintenance will help retain the market value of your property. Generally, your assessment will not be increased for individual minor repairs such as those that follow; however, a combination of several of these items could result in an increased assessment.
Replacing concrete walks and driveways
Replacing gutters and downspouts
Replacing hot water heater
Repairing or replacing roof
Repairing porches and steps
Repairing original siding
Patching or repairing walls and ceilings
Exterior Painting
Replacing electrical fixtures
Replacing furnace
Exterior awnings and shutters
Exterior stripping, screens, storm windows, doors
Exterior landscaping including lawns, shrubbery, trees, flowers

How can my assessment change when I haven't done anything to my property?
General economic conditions such as interest rates, inflation rates, supply and demand, and changes in tax laws, will influence the value of real estate. As property values change in the market place, those changes must be reflected on the assessment roll.

Do all assessments change at the same rate?
There are differences between individual properties and between neighborhoods. In one area the sales may indicate a substantial increase in value in a given year. In another neighborhood there may be no change in value, or even a decrease in property values. Different types of properties within the same Neighborhood may also show different value changes. For example, one-story houses may be in more demand than two-story houses, or vice-versa. Older homes in the same area may be rising in value more slowly than newer homes.

There are numerous factors to be considered in each property which will cause the values to differ. Some of the factors which can affect value are location, condition, size, quality, number of baths, basement finish, garages, and many others.

Will I be notified if there is a change in my assessment?
Wisconsin law requires that whenever an assessment is increased, the owner must be notified.

How do I know if my assessment is correct?
You should first attempt to decide for yourself what your property is worth. This can be done by looking at area sales, contacting appraisers, and comparing assessments of similar homes. Sales and assessment information is available in the Assessor's office and the Real Property Lister Office which is open to the public for review during regular office hours.

THE APPEAL PROCESS

What if I don't agree with my assessment?
Talk with the assessor. During this informal session you can learn how your assessment was made, what factors were considered, and what type of records are kept regarding your property.

After this review, if I still think the assessment is incorrect, what can I do?
You should arrange to appear at the Board of Review. The municipal clerk will provide you with an objection form that you must complete. You will then be scheduled for a hearing at the Board of Review.

What is the Board of Review?
The Board of Review is made up of either local officials or citizens appointed by the governing body. It is the Board's duty to hear evidence by the taxpayer and the assessor and to decide if the assessment is correct.

What evidence do I need to present to the Board of Review?
State law puts the burden of proof on the property owner to show that the assessment is incorrect. Keep in mind that your evidence must be strong enough to prove that the assessor's value is incorrect. Only relevant testimony given at the hearing will be considered by the Board. STATING THAT PROPERTY TAXES ARE TOO HIGH IS NOT RELEVANT TESTIMONY. You should establish in your own mind what you think your property is worth. The best evidence for this would be recent sales prices for properties similar to yours. The closer in proximity and similarity, the better the evidence. Another type of evidence is oral testimony from a witness who has made a recent appraisal of your property.

What happens after the Board of Review makes its decision?
The Board will either give or mail you a notice of its decision. If you do not agree with the Board's determination, the notice will contain information on how you may appeal the Board's decision.

How will my taxes change as a result of the new assessment?
Though the value of your property affects your share of taxes, the actual amount you pay is determined by the budget needs of the schools, city, county, sewer district, technical college, and state reforestation. All of these taxing units decide what services they will provide in the coming year and how much money they will need to provide those services. Once this decision is made, a tax rate is adopted that will generate the needed dollars.
Your property taxes are then determined by multiplying the tax rate by your assessment.

Assessed Value
1000 X Tax Rate = Taxes

Although your tax payments are made to the Treasurer, a large share of your tax dollars are turned over to other governmental units such as the schools, county, sewer district and the state.

GLOSSARY

ASSESSED VALUE: An estimate of value assigned to taxable property by the assessor for purpose of taxation.

MARKET VALUE: The amount a typical, well-informed purchaser would be willing to pay for a property. For a sale to represent market value, the seller must be willing (but not under pressure) to sell, and the buyer must be willing (but not under any obligation) to buy. The property must be on the market for a reasonable length of time, the payment must be in cash or its equivalent, and the financing must be typical for that type of property.

REVALUATION: Placing new values on all taxable property for purposes of a new assessment.

TAX BASE: The total assessed value of all assessments in the municipality.

TAX LEVY: The total amount of property tax money that a taxing unit (such as the schools, city, county, etc.) needs to raise to provide services.

TAX RATE: The tax levy divided by the tax base. It is often expressed in terms of dollars per hundred or dollars per thousand. The tax rate is multiplied by the assessed value to determine the amount of tax that each property must pay.

DATES TO REMEMBER

January 1st - The assessment date - All property is asessed as it existed on this date.

March 1st - Last day to file Personal Property returns.

2nd Monday in May - The Board of Review meets. (Check with the clerk or assessor for exact dates.)

January 31st - Full payment of taxes due OR if paying in installments, due date of first tax installment payment.