Assessment Notice Now Required When Owner May Be Subject To Charge For Converting Agricultural Land
4/23/2008
If an assessor determines that land that was assessed as agricultural land in the previous year no longer qualifies as agricultural land, an assessment notice must be given stating that the property owner may be subject to a conversion charge.
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Assessor Properly Valued Beach-Front Property, Court of Appeals Decides
4/18/2008
An assessor properly analyzed factors relevant to the value of beach-front properties and did not use an unlawful formula, the court of appeals has held.
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Municipalities Will Again Be Able to Collect Payments for Park Land and Park Improvements at the Subdivision Stage
4/2/2008
The Wisconsin Legislature recently restored a municipality’s authority to charge fees for park land and certain park improvements as a condition of approving a plat or certified survey map.
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Statute Changes Property Tax Procedures and Provides Option to Change Others
3/24/2008
Beginning with property tax assessments in 2008, the statute governing objections to property tax assessments has been significantly revised.
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Temporary Moratorium on Land Divisions Upheld
3/20/2008
The Wisconsin Court of Appeals recently ruled that the Town of West Point had authority under section 236.45(2) of the Wisconsin Statutes to impose a temporary town-wide prohibition on land divisions while it developed a comprehensive plan.
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The FMLA Expanded for the First Time Since Enacted
1/31/2008
On January 28, 2008, a Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) expansion for military families was signed into law.
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"No-Match" Letter Safe Harbor Rules on Hold -- Now What?
11/14/2007
A federal district court has temporarily barred the Department of Homeland Security from enforcing the Department's "no-match" safe harbor regulations.
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County's Waste Transfer Station Violates Village Zoning Ordinance
11/1/2007
The Wisconsin Court of Appeals recently emphasized the importance of municipal zoning authority and reaffirmed three important principles.
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Copiers and Fax Machines By Any Other Name Are Not Exempt, Dane County Circuit Court Confirms
10/19/2007
Equipment manufactured by Xerox, known as Document Centres and Document WorkCentres, constituted non-exempt copiers and fax machines, the Dane County Circuit Court has confirmed, upholding decisions of the Wisconsin tax appeals commission.
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Ownership for Property Tax Purposes Is Determined by Factors Existing on January 1 of the Year of Assessment
8/17/2007
For purposes of determining property tax exemption, ownership depends on who is the beneficial owner, not who has legal title.
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Joint Committee Did Not Violate The Open Meetings Law
6/14/2007
The Wisconsin Court of Appeals recently ruled that a joint committee created by the Town of Dunn and Village of McFarland did not violate the open meetings law when it held closed sessions as part of municipal boundary discussions.
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Under Open Records Law, Municipality Must Provide Access To Assessment Data In Computer Database, Court of Appeals Decides
3/2/2007
In response to an open records request, a municipality that maintains property assessment data in a computer database must either extract the data from the database and place it in a separate electronic file or permit the requester to do so itself.
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Temporary Moratorium on Land Divisions Upheld
9/22/2006
Town successfully argues that section 236.45 provides legal authority for a temporary moratorium on all land divisions.
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New Legislation Impacts Municipal Fees
6/14/2006
Effective June 14, 2006, Wisconsin municipalities will feel the impact of 2005 Wis. Act 477. This new legislation limits the type of public facilities that may be funded through impact fees.
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Recent Decisions About Takings Claims
8/24/2005
The United States Supreme Court recently issued three important decisions about takings claims.
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City Zoning Board of Appeals and County Boards of Assessments Affected By Two Recent Wisconsin Supreme Court Decisions
8/17/2005
The law regarding zoning board of appeals and county boards of assessments have been affected by two recent decisions of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
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Employer Forced To Modify Standard Work Shift For Disabled Employee
8/19/2004
The Wis. Supreme Court ruled that Hutchinson Technology violated the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act when it refused to accommodate a disabled employee by allowing her to work an eight-hour shift instead of its standard twelve-hour shift.
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Municipality Not Prevented From Enforcing Zoning Ordinance
2/27/2004
The Wisconsin Court of Appeals held that municipalities cannot be estopped from enforcing zoning ordinances, but in rare cases, equitable principles can justify denying an injunction against a violation of a zoning ordinance.
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Columbus Park Decision Affects Exemptions For Subsidized Housing And Other Property Of Non-Profit Organizations Occupied By Individuals
2/26/2004
Assessors for municipalities that have exempted non-profit housing will need to reconsider those exemptions as a result of the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision in Columbus Park Housing Corp. v. City of Kenosha, 2003 WI 143.
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Dealing With Property Tax Claims
1/17/2003
January 31 is the deadline by which a property owner who claims a property tax exemption for the previous year may file a claim with the municipality.
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Satellite Medical Clinics Ruled Taxable By Circuit Court
1/16/2003
In a decision of state-wide importance to municipalities, Marshfield Clinic's three "satellite" medical clinics in Eau Claire have been ruled subject to property tax by the Eau Claire County Circuit Court.
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Board of Review Must Require Owner To Complete Objection Form Or Risk Waiving Requirement
1/9/2003
A recent decision of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals means the board of review should require a property owner to answer all questions on an objection form before proceeding with a hearing or risk waiving the requirement that all questions be answered.
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Property Tax Law For Federally Subsidized Housing Affected By Two Recent Court of Appeals Decisions
11/25/2002
The property tax law about federally subsidized housing has been affected by two recent and significant decisions of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.
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Traditional Neighborhood Development Ordinances Required For Cities And Villages With Over 12,500 People
11/21/2002
In 1999, the Wisconsin legislature required every city and village with 12,500 or more people to enact a TND ordinance, intended to create mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods which enhance the sense of place and the sense of community.
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Federal Court of Appeals Affirms County Victory In Suit Over Snowmobile Trail
11/21/2002
In an important case for local government and the tourism industry in Northern Wisconsin, the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has ruled that part of a popular snowmobile trail in Bayfield County is owned by the county.
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Towns Lose Bargaining Chips
11/21/2002
In the past two years the extent of a town’s authority to prohibit or condition a city or village’s installation of sewer or water mains through town territory has been clarified by two decisions by the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.
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U.S. Supreme Court Clarifies Regulatory Takings Analysis
10/9/2002
The U.S. Supreme Court has decided that a moratorium on development is not necessarily a taking, and that regulatory takings cases must be decided on a case-by-case basis rather than on categorical rules.
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Direct Legislation May be Used to Compel Referendum Approval for Projects
10/9/2002
In Mount Horeb Community Alert v. Village Board of Mt. Horeb, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals expanded the scope of the direct legislation statute (section 9.20, Wis. Stats.).
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Municipal Regulation of Nonmetallic Mine Reclamation
7/30/2001
If nonmetallic mines are, or could be, operated in your municipality, you should be aware of Wisconsin’s new nonmetallic mining regulations found in chapter 295 of the Wisconsin Statutes and NR 135 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code.
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Municipal Regulation of Religious Activities
7/30/2001
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Municipal Regulation of Sexually Oriented Businesses
7/30/2001
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