NEW ASSESSMENTS TO BE RELEASED

The notices of changes in assessments for 2007 are being mailed to property owners. Assessment notices will be mailed only when assessments have been changed from the 2006 value. Of the 70,386 parcels in the City, 67.3% are being changed (46,027 increases and 1,351 reductions).

Property owners may inspect the 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 9 through April 27. 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 appraisal is more than the actual fair market value of property, the Assessor's Office will review the pertinent facts and make appropriate adjustments. The best evidence of value is a recent sale price of the property or the sales prices of comparable properties.

After talking with the Assessor's Office, owners who still feel that the value of property is overstated may file formal written objections. Objections must be in writing on forms that may be obtained from the City Assessor's Office. These forms must be completed and returned to the City Assessor's Office by 4:30 p.m., Friday, April 27 or postmarked by midnight April 27, 2007.

Formal objections filed by the April 27th deadline will be reviewed by the Board of Assessors and necessary corrections or changes may be made. 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.

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