District 20 - Weekly Events of Interest

The City Assessor is responsible for the assessment process, including:

1. Discovering all real and personal property that is subject to tax unless exempted by law;
2. Listing all property characteristics used to determine value, and
3. Valuing all property subject to property tax.

Creating and maintaining an accurate assessment roll (list of all taxable property: address, value, and owner) fulfills the first requirement. Sustaining property record cards with correct characteristics and information satisfies the second requirement. Accurate valuation, the final requirement, entails estimating the market value of all locally assessable property in the City. These values are used when establishing property taxes in December. Please see the Assessor's Office for more information.

In Madison, all property is valued annually at 100% of market value as of January 1. There are several types of real property, including single family homes, condominiums, apartment buildings, commercial, and agricultural properties. Real property is assessed by the City Assessor and represents approximately 99% of the property tax base. The remaining 1% of the tax base is manufacturing property valued by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.

Real Estate Changes

Locally assessed real estate increased 9.1% for 2025. Commercial assessments increased 10.9%, and residential assessments increased 8%. New construction accounted for over $1 billion of the base value. Steady growth and continued development contributed to the increase.

Recap of Local Changes

A report is available, including tables that focus on the compositions and rates of locally assessed real estate growth.

Open Book & Assessment Appeals

Assessment Notices - The 2025 assessments were mailed on Friday, May 16, 2025, and are available on the city assessor's website.

Open Book: Correct assessment record with appraiser - During the Open Book period, you can review your assessment record. If any details are incorrect, we will correct the error and adjust your assessment. These might include:

• Change in the number of rooms
• Building permit that was not completed on January 1, 2025

During this period, our staff can also explain the methods and information we use to assess your property.

The 2025 Open Book Period to correct assessment records is from Monday, May 19, 2025, through Friday, May 23, 2025.