West Allis homeowners are about to get some mail that could change how their property tax bill is sliced up. The city is launching a citywide property revaluation, with updated assessments scheduled to appear online by April 7. City officials stress this is a routine reset to bring assessed values in line with current market conditions, not a citywide tax-rate hike, although an individual homeowner’s share of the overall tax burden can still shift. Informational mailings and online tools are expected to walk residents through what to look for and how to respond.
City timeline and notices
According to the City of West Allis, assessment notices will be mailed and posted on the city’s property assessments portal by April 7. Open Book appointments are scheduled for April, and Board of Review sessions are planned for May. City officials connect this revaluation to brisk local home-sale activity since 2020, with higher sale prices and tight inventory leaving many existing assessments out of sync with the market. The notice urges property owners to review their mailed assessment carefully and follow the instructions provided for Open Book scheduling and appeal deadlines.
Why this revaluation is required
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue explains that state law requires municipalities to keep assessed values reasonably close to market value, generally within about 10 percent, and to conduct periodic revaluations so that assessments stay uniform and fair. The agency’s guide notes that revaluations update assessments to reflect a market snapshot as of January 1 and typically redistribute the existing tax levy among property owners rather than increase the total levy. It also outlines the Open Book and Board of Review steps taxpayers can use if they think their new assessment misses the mark.
How to check your notice and next steps
Once notices are live, owners can look up their updated records on the city’s property assessments portal and review details about Open Book appointments and Board of Review filing procedures, as described on the city’s property assessments page. If you believe your new value is off, the recommended path is to start with the Assessor’s Office, collect recent comparable sales, and request an Open Book review or, if needed, a formal Board of Review appeal. For the assessment portal and contact information, see the City of West Allis.
