Letter to the Editor published in the April 26, 2023 issue of the Tomahawk Leader.
Open Book, Board of Review meetings
Property Taxpayers please read!
We would like to remind property taxpayers to talk with their assessor or attend their Town/City Open Book meeting to review the assessment roll if they question the assessed value of their property.
Some municipalities have Open Book meetings starting in April. If you are not satisfied with the outcome at the Open Book meeting then you can appeal the assessment to the Board of Review, which is a panel of your local officials.
The Board of Review meetings are held between April and December and will be listed in your local papers, posted at your town/city hall, and on the town/city website if they have one. You may also contact your Town/City Clerk or your assessor to determine the date and time of the Open Book and Board of Review meetings.
You can also go to the Department of Revenue website to check an Open Book and Board of Review calendar to find out if your municipality has posted the dates on the calendar. That site is www.bit.ly/3oqXOX5. This site will also list your town clerk and assessors name and phone number.
The law requires a precise order to follow and specific information be presented by the taxpayer when appealing your assessment. The Board of Review is a hearing in which you are sworn and give testimony. For more information on this subject, you can visit www.bit.ly/3UMcpILand and type “Property Assessment Appeal Guide for Wisconsin Real Property Owners” in the search window. This booklet and others are also listed on the DOR site with the calendar.
Once the Board of Review certifies the assessment roll and adjourns their meeting, no further changes can be made to your assessment. It is important that you act now to review your assessment because once you receive your tax bill it is too late to object to the assessment and taxes.
Robbin Gigl, Lincoln County Treasurer
Tara Ostermann, Oneida County Treasurer
Paulette Sarnicki, Vilas County Treasurer