Open Book & Board of Review

Please Click Here for 2023 Open Book Dates & Times
 

Open Book Review Period

Every year, the assessor's office prepares a preliminary assessment roll. This reflects property values as of January 1 each year.  The Open Book Review period is set aside to answer questions posed by property owners and to correct obvious clerical errors that were made in compiling the assessment roll.

If an error was made, or if there is evidence that the assessment is different than the actual fair market value of property, the Assessor's Office will review the facts and may make appropriate adjustments. The best evidence of value is a recent arm’s length sale of the property or sales of comparable properties. Contact the Assessor with your questions.

Why Did My Assessment Change?

In typical years, the City of Dodgeville completes a “Maintenance Assessment” which simply means updating values for changes in the properties due to permit activity or physical descriptive changes. Not all changes to property data result in a value change. If you received an assessment change notice, this means that there was a data change to your property that did result in a value change. 

Examples of changes that could affect property value include: new construction, combining or splitting of parcels, remodeling, demolition, and any other occurrence that might affect value or the attributes of the parcel.

In "Revaluation Assessment Years", all City property is reviewed and revalued to bring all properties up to current market value.  The City of Dodgeville plans to have a revaluation assessment in 2022.

Comparing Assessments

You can research property assessment data by visiting the County Land Records website. Available information includes property address, legal description, sales information, as well as details about physical characteristics.

Owners who disagree with their assessment should personally discuss it with the Assessor's Office. If an error was made, or if there is evidence that the assessment is more than the actual fair market value of property, the Assessor's Office will review the facts and may make appropriate adjustments.

Formal Objection at the Board of Review

After talking with the Assessor's Office, owners who still feel that the value of property is overstated may file formal written objections to the Board of Review (BOR). Objections must be submitted to the City Clerk on forms that are available in the City Clerk's Office or on-line.

Formal objections may proceed to a formal hearing before the Board of Review. Similar to a court, the Board of Review has the responsibility for resolving differences of opinion of valuation. The Board hears oral testimony and evidence presented by the property owner and the Assessor's staff. After hearing the evidence, the Board may lower, raise, or sustain the assessment.

For additional information on appeals procedures, please view the Property Assessment Appeal Guide for Wisconsin Real Property Owners.