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Assessments FAQ
Nobody was in my home, so how could you reassess it? Nobody was in my home, so how could you reassess it?The assessor's office maintains a complete record of each property in the village. Information is kept current through building permit inspections, sales inspections, periodic re-inspections, and exterior reviews. These records are public and available for your review.Back to Top What is market value?Market value can be defined as the probable price that a careful, willing buyer would pay a willing seller for a property on the open market without restrictions or special considerations.Back to Top How does the assessor's office determine market value?Generally, the assessor determines property values by analyzing sale prices of similar types of properties that have sold during the recent past. "Similar" properties are those which compare in location factors, house style, age, size, quality, number of dwelling units, and other features or amenities. Current building costs and a property's ability to produce income are also important factors when determining assessed values depending on the type of property to be valued.Back to Top Why did the percent change of my assessment vary from the Village-wide average?The Village-wide average represents an overall average for all classes and types of property throughout the Village. The percent change for a specific property depends on individual characteristics of the property, the activity of the real estate market within its type of neighborhood, and the accuracy of the previous assessment. It is more important to focus on the current assessed value and ask if this assessment accurately reflects the market value of your property.Back to Top The assessed value of my property has only increased modestly and I'm concerned with this leveling of market value. I feel my property is worth more. What does this mean for the future?Your assessment is dynamic and changes to reflect changes in the real estate market since the last revaluation. No change or a modest increase does not necessarily mean your property or neighborhood will decline in desirability or value. In comparing changes from previous years, we see many areas stabilizing in value. Properties change, markets change. Buyers and sellers determine market value; the assessor's job is to reflect changes to market value in the assessment process.Back to Top Will I be penalized if I don't allow the assessor to view the interior of my property?No. A property owner may refuse to allow an interior inspection. But consider this thought; When shopping for a new home, no one would determine what price to pay for a property until they inspect both its interior and exterior. Many potential buyers hire experts to inspect a property and alert them to potential issues that impact the value of the property. The same holds true for the assessor's office. The accuracy of an assessment is only as reliable as the information used to determine the value. Without reviewing the interior of a property, the assessor's office is left to estimate the interior components using the best information available. Additionally, by refusing to allow an inspection after a written request by the assessor's office, the property owner loses their right to contest the assessed value before the Board of Review.Back to Top How will this assessment affect my taxes?The purpose of a revaluation is not to raise taxes, but rather to provide for fair distribution of the property tax burden based on the market value of each property as of Wisconsin's statutory assessment date of January 1. The actual amount of property tax depends on the budgets passed by each of the different taxing authorities and the amount of state and federal support of these budgets.Back to Top How is the tax rate determined?The total tax rate is calculated by dividing the amount of taxes required by all taxing authorities by the total assessed value of all taxable property in the Village. The tax rate is the amount of taxes per $1,000 of assessed value and determines the amount that appears on your tax bill. Tax rates are dependent on the operating budgets of the units of government which levy property taxes and the level of support of those budgets by the state and federal governments. These budgets are finalized during the fall of the year and the tax rate is set toward the end of November. Tax bills are mailed early December. Besides the Village, the individual taxing units are the Kenosha Unified School District, Kenosha County, Gateway Technical College, and the State of Wisconsin Reforestation Project.Back to Top Can I appeal the amount of the assessed value?Yes. If your opinion of the value of your property differs from the assessed value, you should contact the assessor's office to discuss the assessment of your property. The assessor can review with you the information about your property used to determine your assessed value and explain the procedure used in arriving at the assessment. If after discussing your assessment you do not agree with the assessed value, you may file an appeal. Forms for filing an appeal are available from the Board of Review. The property owner's opinion of the market value of the property must be included on the form. It is too late to file an objection when you receive your tax bill in December.Back to Top What happens when I file an appeal?Upon filing a timely appeal you will be provided a hearing before the local Board of Review.Back to Top What are my responsibilities at the Board of Review hearing?Property owners appealing to the Board of Review should be aware that:
What recourse is there beyond the Board of Review?A decision of the Board of Review may be appealed to the Kenosha County Circuit Court or to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.Back to Top |
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