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Janesville planning to mail 2009 assessment notices

JANESVILLE — About 10 percent of Janesville's 24,000 property owners will receive notice that their assessments have changed from the previous year.

The assessments will be mailed Wednesday and are based on activity in 2008. Some values might have changed because of new construction, remodeling or other changes the city becomes aware of, often when a property is sold, said Richard Haviza, assessment operations manager.

The assessments are not related to the city's upcoming revaluation, which has been delayed.

The revaluation will be for either 2010 or 2011, Haviza said.

The city was last revalued in 2002 and was last in compliance with state regulations in 2004. Communities must revalue if they fall below 90 percent or rise above 110 percent of fair market value.

Staff initially thought the revaluation had to be completed in 2009 for the 2010 tax role, Haviza said. But staff has since learned that a revaluation could be done in 2010 for the 2011 tax roll. The process of the state telling a municipality to get back into compliance could extend the deadline another three to five years.

The council at one point had indicated a desire to inspect every property in Janesville as part of the revaluation.

That, however, is being reconsidered and will come before the council sometime this summer.

Notices being sent this week include information on the dates and times of the assessor's open book sessions and information on appealing assessments to the board of review. Anyone can make an appointment, even if he or she does not receive a change of assessment notice.

Open book appointments run from Thursday, June 18, through Wednesday, July 1.