2023 Revaluation Information

The City of Greenfield has begun the process of completing a revaluation of all real property.  The results of the revaluation will be applied to the December 2023 property tax bills.  For general information on the revaluation process, please refer to the Revaluation Fact Sheet. For all other questions, please call the Assessor's Office at (414) 329-5340 or email the Assessor's Office at assessor@greenfieldwi.us.


Open Book and Board of Review

For information on open book and Board of Review, please click  Board of Review and you will be re redirected to the City Clerk's page.


Common Questions Regarding Revaluations

What is an assessment and what is its purpose?

An assessment is the value placed upon taxable real and personal property by the assessor.  This figure determines the portion of the local property tax levy that the property will bear.


What is a revaluation?

A revaluation is the determination of new values within the municipality for taxation purposes. Section 70.05(5) Wis. Stats requires each municipality to assess property within ten percent of full value at least once every five years.  A revaluation can also be done annually or periodically as deemed necessary to best serve the public interest.  The goal of a revaluation is to produce a more accurate and equitable value than was in place previously on a given property and city-wide.  This means the assessment should reflect market sale prices and properties with comparable amenities should be assessed similarly.


Revaluations are expensive.  Are they really necessary?

A complete revaluation of all taxable real and personal property within a municipality is periodically necessary. There may be several reasons for this: (1) the current assessment may not have been in substantial compliance with the law; (2) inequities may exist within classes of properties; (3) inequities may exist between classes of property; (4) the governing body may desire an updating of records to show the physical characteristics of all its taxable real and personal property; (5) a governing body may desire an original inventory of all its taxable property; or (6) the assessment level may not be in compliance with current law, which requires each major class of property to be within ten percent of the state’s equalized value for the corresponding major class.


Do taxes go up after revaluation?

If the total levy remains the same, only those properties that are not presently paying their fair share of the tax burden will pay more taxes after a revaluation. Properties presently paying more than their fair share will pay less. The purpose of a revaluation is to distribute the tax burden fairly and equitably among the taxable properties in the municipality in accordance with the law. The purpose is not to increase taxes.  Tax increases are directly related to the budgetary needs of the taxing jurisdictions.


How will this impact the tax rate?

A revaluation that results in higher assessed values will decrease the tax rate. However, there are many other factors that can impact the tax rate.  The tax rate will likely increase as part of the 2024 budget process.  A tax levy increase as part of the budget is common because the cost of doing business goes up each year.  This change will not be determined until the city completes its budget process in fall.  Also, your tax impact will be determined by all taxing jurisdictions, including the school district (either Greenfield, Whitnall or West Allis), Milwaukee County, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewer District (MMSD), and Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC).  These tax rate will be determined later this year.


Do I personally need to do anything for my property to get revalued?  Does this mean somebody needs to go through my house?

Most of the work will be done in the office and through drive-by review.  Assessors will only need to visit properties with completed permits or sales that they need to review, etc.  The assessor will use market data available from recent sales and property data already on file to determine you new value.


When will notices of new assessments be mailed?

Notices of changed assessments will be mailed to property owners after values are reviewed in July.


What is "Open Book?"

Open book is a set period of time for property owners to contact the assessor’s office with questions regarding their new values. After notices are mailed, property owners with questions are encouraged to contact the Assessor’s office via email assessor@greenfieldwi.us or call (414)329-5340.  Open book is scheduled for July 24–28, 2023 during the hours of 8:30am–Noon and 1pm–4:30pm, by appointment only at Greenfield City Hall in the Assessor’s office, 7325 W Forest Home avenue, Room 202, Greenfield, WI 53220.  To schedule an appointment email kelly.osterman@catalisgov.com or call (262)253-1142.


What if I still disagree with my value after my Open Book appointment?

A property owner who still disagrees with the assessed value has the right to appear before the Board of Review. This Board acts like a court by taking oral testimony from the property owner and the Assessor’s office. Taxpayers present evidence as to what they feel the market value should be and the Assessor presents evidence on how the assessment was derived. The Board then make a decision based upon the evidence presented. The Assessor’s value is presumed correct unless compelling contrary evidence is presented. NOTE:  If you are a taxpayer who disagrees with their assessed value, you must provide written or oral notice of your intent to file an objection with the Clerk's Office at least 48 hours before the Board of Review's first scheduled meeting.  You can obtain an objection form from the Clerk's Office, room 102 within City Hall.  The objection form must be filed with the Clerk during the first 2 hours of the Board's first scheduled meeting.  Make sure you file a completed form or the Board may refuse to act on your appeal.


What information can I use to contest my value if I disagree with it?

The best indicator of market value is a recent sale of the subject property. This would be a sale on the open market between a willing buyer and seller under no duress to sell or any compulsion to buy. Additional relevant information can include similar homes nearby with lower assessments, or recent market value appraisal, and construction costs if recently built. 


What information cannot be used to contest my value?

Concerns specific to taxes, rather than assessed value, will not be reviewed.  The Assessors’ job is to determine an assessed value that closely represents market value.  They do not determine, set or collect taxes.


Do all assessments change at the same rate?

No.  Several factors can affect the rate of change, such as location, style of property, age, condition, etc.