Tax assessments, which inform property values and taxes, will soon appear in the mail, leaving some homeowners wondering what comes next, but a webinar on Tuesday, April 28, aims to help answer those questions.
The event is virtual and organized by Take Root Milwaukee, a local housing resource organization, and Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity.
During the event, speakers from the City of Milwaukee Assessor’s Office, Housing Resources Inc. and other local organizations will speak about what the tax assessment is, how to appeal, and how to plan for the upcoming tax season if your property value has gone up.
“The time to appeal an assessment is pretty tight,” said Emmett Gross, home retention manager with Housing Resources, Inc.
“You really need to take action right away.”
What is a property assessment?
Every year, the City Assessor’s Office evaluates properties across Milwaukee to determine how much each property is worth.
That dollar amount helps determine what homeowners pay in property taxes, but the final tax rate is not determined until factors like budgets for the city and other taxing units, including Milwaukee Public Schools, are set in the fall, according to previous Journal Sentinel reporting.
Property values are assessed and updated annually in mid-April, according to the city website.
Residents can appeal the assessment when they disagree with the city’s assessment of their property’s value.
Each appeal is a multi-part process, including an informal review, a meeting and a formal appeal − during which the homeowner will need to provide information about the property showing why they think the assessment is incorrect.
Instructions to appeal, are also available on the back of the property assessment mailed to the homeowner.
The deadline to appeal an assessment is Monday, May 18., according to the city website.
How to join the upcoming tax assessment webinar:
Registration: Click the link to register for the webinar.
Date: Tuesday, April 28.
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Other Resources for Homeowners
Residents with questions can reach out directly to the Assessor’s Office through a portal called “Ask the Assessor”.
Housing Resources Inc. offers virtual classes for homeowners to help them manage their money, look for loans, grants and other funds to help purchase a house.
Everett Eaton covers Harambee for the Journal Sentinel’s Neighborhood Dispatch. Contact: eeaton@usatodayco.com.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Confused by your property assessment? This local webinar can help
Reporting by Everett Eaton, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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