Common Council

Thank you and Update on property assessments

Thank you to the people of District 18 who have blessed me with the opportunity to serve as their representative on the Madison City Council. My pledge to you is to listen, to use my life experiences – as the son of an immigrant, as a proud union member, and as a single dad to three great children – to find common ground and common-sense solutions to the tough issues we face.

As your Alder, I will serve on the Alcohol License Review Committee, the City-County Liaison Committee, the Transportation Commission, the Redistricting Ad Hoc Committee, and the Warner Park Community Recreation Center Advisory Subcommittee. I look forward to working with my colleagues and the citizen members of those committees over the next two years.

I will do my best to keep you updated on what's happening in City government and in our district. Please always feel free to contact me with your questions or concerns.

2021 City of Madison Property Assessments Now Available

The 2021 property assessments are now available on the City website at cityofmadison.com/assessor. Assessment notices were mailed recently to all property owners whether or not their assessment has changed from the previous year's value. Property values increased 5.9% overall from the 2020 assessments. Commercial property has increased 4.3% and residential assessments increased 6.7%.

Information about the COVID-19 impact on Madison assessments is available in a Madison Assessor's Office video available here.

As per state statute, a period for "examination of the assessment roll" - what is referred to as "open book" - is provided. This period of time is an opportunity to discuss property value and provide reason for changing value, if appropriate. This "open book" period is set aside for property owners to discuss their assessments with Assessor's Office staff prior to completion of the assessment roll. Property owners who wish to compare assessments may also view assessment data posted on the Assessor's website. Available information includes owner's name, property address, legal description, sale information and property characteristics.

The open book period will begin Monday, April 19 and close Friday, April 30 at 4:30 p.m. Due to the pandemic, open book contact this year will be telephonic or virtual. The Assessor's Office remains closed to the public for everyone's safety. Property owners must initiate contact with the appraiser for their property in one of two ways:

Email: openbook@cityofmadison.com
Call: (608) 266-4531

Support staff fielding the initial contact will direct you to the appropriate appraiser and provide helpful information about the process and resources available. The appraiser will then contact you based on the initial information provided.

Owners who disagree with their assessment are encouraged to speak with the appraiser who established the value. If an error was made or if a property owner has evidence that the assessment does not reflect the actual fair market value of the property, the appraiser will take this information into consideration in setting the final assessed value. Appraisers welcome the opportunity to review any and all information provided. The best evidence of value is the recent sale price of the property or the sale prices of comparable properties.

After talking with the Assessor's Office, owners who still feel the assessed value of their property is incorrect may file a formal objection.

If you have general questions concerning assessments, please contact the Assessor's Office at assessor@cityofmadison.com or (608) 266-4531.