Contact: Todd A. Berry or Dale Knapp608.241.9789 or wistax@wistax.org

August 11, 2016

The Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, founded in 1932, is the state’s oldest and most respected private government-research organization. Through its research, publications, civic lectures, and school talks, WISTAX aims to improve Wisconsin government through citizen education. Nonprofit, nonpartisan, and independently funded, WISTAX is not affiliated with any group—national, state, or local—and receives no government support.

Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance401 North Lawn Avenue • Madison, WI 53704-5033www.wistax.org • 608.241.9789 • fax: 608.241.5807

NEWS

MADISON—The total value of taxable Wisconsin properties rose a modest 3.0% this year to $505.1 billion.

However, they have still not reached their pre-recession peak recorded in 2008. This is the key finding from a

Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance (WISTAX) analysis of preliminary “equalized value” figures released by the state

Department of Revenue (DOR).

Peak to trough, total state property valuations dropped 9.1% from a high of $514.4 billion in 2008 to a low

of $467.5 billion in 2013. At prevailing appreciation rates, WISTAX estimates it will be 2017 before Wisconsin

property markets erase the effects of an unprecedented five consecutive years of value decline.

The 2013-16 recovery in values has been steady, averaging 2.6% per year. However, that is modest compared

to 2000-08, when statewide property valuation averaged growth of 7.6% per year.

Although total full-market property values increased 3.0% this year, appreciation was uneven, even spotty.

Only 28 Wisconsin counties saw their values rise at rates that matched or exceeded the state average.

At the same time, 10 of the 72 counties reported valuation increases of more than 4.0%, and they were geo-

graphically limited. Six are centered in and around Eau Claire County, east of the Twin Cities. Three were in or

near metro Madison, including Dane County. Kenosha, the other county in the top ten, is within commuting dis-

tance of greater Chicago.

Nine counties had values that declined or were flat. All are in the far northern part of Wisconsin, ranging from

Sawyer and Bayfield in the west to Florence and Forest in the east. In most of these and neighboring counties,

values of existing property declined even more, offset only slightly by new construction.

In the populous southeast, values in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Waukesha, and Washington Conties rose at or

slightly above the state average.

Further detail on equalized value trends in the Badger State will be available in WISTAX’s forthcoming Focus

newsletter and in the official DOR release of final property-value figures; both are due out in mid-August. Copies

of the bi-weekly WISTAX newsletter are available free by visiting www.wistax.org; emailing wistax@wistax.org;

calling 608.241.9789; or writing WISTAX at 401 North Lawn Ave., Madison, WI 53704-5033. o

[Editor Note: Individual county detail of preliminary values are listed on the reverse side.]

Statewide Property Values Up 3.0% for 2016Preliminary Figures Show Statewide Totals Still Trail Pre-Recession Peak

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Compare finances of 245 cities, villages.To order, use contact information above.

2015 2016 Pct.County $ bill. $ bill. Ch.

Adams $2.41 $2.43 0.8Ashland 1.19 1.21 1.6Barron 3.85 3.97 3.0Bayfield 2.56 2.56 0.0Brown 19.33 19.70 1.9Buffalo 1.09 1.12 2.7Burnett 2.47 2.55 3.1Calumet 3.67 3.78 2.9Chip'wa 4.97 5.15 3.5Clark 1.91 2.01 5.3Columbia 4.99 5.14 3.0Crawford 1.13 1.17 3.7Dane 53.92 56.54 4.9Dodge 5.99 6.10 1.8Door 6.92 7.05 1.9Douglas 3.34 3.37 1.0Dunn 2.80 2.91 3.9Eau Cl. 7.50 7.85 4.7

2015 2016 Pct.County $ bill. $ bill. Ch.

Florence 0.62 0.62 -0.1Fond d'L 7.07 7.18 1.6Forest 1.11 1.08 -1.9Grant 3.00 3.07 2.3Green 2.72 2.83 4.2Gr. Lake 2.24 2.26 0.9Iowa 1.89 1.93 2.1Iron 0.97 0.94 -2.2Jackson 1.57 1.62 3.2Jefferson 6.49 6.66 2.6Juneau 1.92 1.97 2.8Kenosha 13.18 13.92 5.6Kewaunee 1.95 2.02 3.4La Cr. 8.72 9.04 3.7Lafay'te 1.08 1.12 4.3Langlade 1.68 1.68 -0.1Lincoln 2.31 2.32 0.4Man'woc 5.20 5.28 1.4

2015 2016 Pct.County $ bill. $ bill. Ch.

Marathon 9.85 10.16 3.1Marinette 3.60 3.71 2.8Marquette 1.51 1.54 1.5Men'nee 0.29 0.30 2.6Milw. 58.55 60.29 3.0Monroe 3.04 3.17 4.2Oconto 3.62 3.69 2.0Oneida 6.74 6.76 0.3Out'mie 13.65 14.07 3.0Ozaukee 10.97 11.33 3.2Pepin 0.57 0.60 5.6Pierce 3.00 3.09 3.1Polk 4.23 4.35 2.9Portage 5.34 5.43 1.6Price 1.39 1.39 0.0Racine 13.90 14.17 2.0Richland 1.07 1.11 3.8Rock 9.93 10.28 3.6

2015 2016 Pct.County $ bill. $ bill. Ch.

Rusk 1.23 1.23 -0.1St. Croix 8.06 8.59 6.6Sauk 6.83 6.90 1.1Sawyer 3.43 3.43 -0.2Shawano 2.98 3.00 0.7Sheb'gan 8.65 8.76 1.3Taylor 1.40 1.43 2.8Trem'leau 1.99 2.12 6.3Vernon 1.84 1.91 3.5Vilas 6.75 6.75 0.0Walworth 13.37 13.64 2.0Washburn 2.35 2.40 1.8Wash'ton 13.37 13.84 3.6Wauk'sha 50.19 51.94 3.5Waupaca 3.85 3.94 2.2Waushara 2.40 2.46 2.3Winn'go 12.07 12.33 2.1Wood 4.83 4.87 0.8

Preliminary Full-Market (“Equalized”) Property Values by Wis. County: 2015, 2016 and Pct. Change ($ billions)

Source: Preliminary Release, Wisconsin Department of Revenue, 8.01.16

Focus is published by the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, 401 N. Lawn Ave., Madison, WI, 26 times per year. Subscriptions are $44 for one year. WISTAX contributors of $85 or more receive a free copy. Media is encouraged to quote contents, with credit to WISTAX. Electronic reproduction or forwarding is prohibited, unless permission is granted. Send requests to wistax@wistax.org. Per IRS regulations, WISTAX financial statements are available on request.

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