Subject:                          FW: PowerPoint Presentation

Attachments:                 La Crosse Mtg.1.19.11.ppt; Ad Hoc Assessment Practices Report 1-20-11.doc

 

To: WRPLA Membership 2010
Subject: FW: PowerPoint Presentation

Hi Everyone, last night our County’s Assessment Reform Study Committee met and had the Dept of Revenue present the attached power point presentation.  For those that still think reform is on the back burner, it is not and like have I said it has never has been.  Part of my committees job is now to look at contracts in our county that will benefit the taxpayers, the local units of government, and the state.  Education will be a high priority to make sure our residents know about these changes and make sure all new assessments are open and transparent, meaning anyone can ask a question on their valuation and get a complete answer along with access to the records used to produce their value.  Please review the power point for your own sake, so you know the requirements needed.   Since the local unit of government still insist on local control, the highest burden of responsibility is now on them to show us they can make this happen.  In the very near future, all records and reporting will have to be electronic.  This will be an investment that has been pointed out over the last 3 years but the locals have not taken it seriously.  Since this is going to happen, the only way to make it so is through constant education.

 

I applaud the DOR in its efforts to streamline the tax and assessment process for the following reasons:  in WI property taxes generate almost $10 billion in revenue.  All of the other state taxes, such as sales tax, income tax, corporate tax, cigarette tax, and  all the rest generate about $11 billion.  The state probably has about 1500 full-time people working on the support of the $11 billion.  On the property assessment side, the state is down to 106 FTE in Revenue and 432 assessors of which more than half are part time.  So for support of the largest single tax generator in this state we have about 300 full time equivalents working in the assessment process.   Why doesn’t anyone want to talk about improving this process when it affects everyone?    All I can do is ask you all for your help in educating your supervisors, your county board and locals that this is for real and not going away.  At the county level, you may not see much change unless you are not participating in PAD or submitting reports electronically.  The DOR does need our help to get the word out.  Eau Claire and  Marathon County have already asked for a similar presentation.   I highly recommend that this info be shared with any of your oversight committees, administrator or executive, so it’s on their radar screen and included in future budget discussions. 

 

Please note toward the end of the power point, all the associations that have been participating on the State Committee reviewing the current and proposing new standards.  This committee has depended a lot on these organizations helping their members to stay on top of this topic.  So it behooves us all who belong to any of these associations to find out all you can and make sure it’s on some upcoming agenda. 

 

One town board chairman referenced this whole process to eating an elephant.  It’s tough skinned, hard to chew, will get old real fast and will not go away.  I laughed so hard.  When I look back to the early 197o's when assessors weren’t even certified and there wasn't any assessment manual, it’s been almost 35 years since there has been a major change like this.   From what I understand the new Secretary of the DOR is supportive because it automates and streamlines the process with many more benefits yet to come.  Which means others will be able use the data.  This is also something I’ve been saying for years, there is no sense in collecting data if no one can use.  The days of single purpose data is history.  We have to get away from duplicating records because someone doesn’t play well in the sand box.    

 

 

Jeff Bluske

Director - Zoning, Planning & Land Information Dept.

LaCrosse County Administrative Center

400 4th ST N - Room 3170

LaCrosse, WI 54601-3200

p - 608-785-9724

c - 608-792-1167

f - 608-785-5922

e - bluske.jeff@co.la-crosse.wi.us

w - www.co.la-crosse.wi.us

Jeff Bluske

 

 

 

From: Shields, Scott R - DOR [mailto:Scott.Shields@revenue.wi.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 3:35 PM
To: Jeff Bluske
Cc: Adler, Jean L - DOR; Davis, Daniel A - DOR
Subject: PowerPoint Presentation

 

Good afternoon Jeff,

 

Attached is the PowerPoint that Carol, Jean, and Dan will present this evening.

Can you make copies for the meeting?

 

Thank you!

 

Scott R. Shields

Equalization Section Chief

Bureau of Property Tax

WI-DOR

Phone: (608) 266-8223

Fax: (608) 264-6897

 

 

 

  ________________________________  

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This electronic mail transmission and any accompanying documents contain information belonging to the sender which may be confidential and legally privileged. This information is only for the use of the individual or entity to whom this electronic mail transmission was intended. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution, or action taken in reliance on the contents of the information contained in this transmission is strictly prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error, please immediately contact the sender and delete the message. Thank you.

PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
This e-mail and attachments are intended for the addressed recipient only.
If you are not the correct recipient please notify the sender of the delivery error and delete this message.  Improper disclosure, copying, distribution, retransmission, or use of information from this e-mail is Prohibited, and may result in liability and damages for misuse of this information.

-- 
This email was Anti Virus checked by Astaro Security Gateway. http://www.astaro.com