Navigating Milwaukee’s 2025 Property Assessment Process: What Commercial Property Owners Need to Know

 Posted on May 07, 2025 in Business

By Christopher L. Strohbehn

Once again, in 2025, the commercial property owners in the City of Milwaukee are opening up their mail to find significant changes in their property assessments. According to the Milwaukee Business Journal, the City of Milwaukee has reported a 17% increase in assessed property values compared to 2024.  If you are a commercial property owner who has taken a hit based on this increase, there are remedies.

City of Milwaukee Open Book Period

If a commercial property taxpayer is unhappy with its assessment, it has an opportunity to communicate with the Assessor’s Office in the City of Milwaukee during the Open Book period from April 21-May 19, 2025.  During the "Open Book," property owners can review their assessments and discuss a modification with the assessor in an informal manner.  Many times, this informal process can allow for quicker resolutions without the need for a formal appeal.  If there is some sort of error or misunderstanding as it relates to the assessment, the Open  Book is a good time to try to sort it out with the assessor.

However, commercial property owners should consider retaining counsel to assist them in responding to any requests for income and expense statements.  By failing to provide the correct information on a timely basis, that substantially increases the risk that any objection might be dismissed for failure to cooperate.  Moreover, to the extent this information is confidential and proprietary, it is important to make sure the Assessor’s Office will treat that information similarly.

Preparing for the Board of Review

The Board of Review functions in a quasi-judicial capacity, operating under statutory standards and evidentiary rules. Hearings are conducted much like a trial: property owners (or their attorneys) can present their case, followed by the Assessor’s rebuttal.  In Wisconsin, the assessments are given a presumption of correctness.   For property owners to prevail at the Board of Review, it requires that presumption of correctness be rebutted with evidence.   That requires expensive appraisals and expert testimony.  Due to the complexities behind the analysis and the cost of litigation at this Board of Review level,  counsel will seek that the hearing be "waived" so that the appeal could be taken directly to Wisconsin Circuit Court.   By litigating the matter in Wisconsin Circuit Court, an independent judge will make an ultimate determination related to the assessment in a trial to the court.

Property Tax Representation Matters 

Given the financial stakes and technical complexities of commercial assessments, retaining experienced legal counsel from Mallery s.c. can relieve a great deal of the stress and complexities of the Board of Review objection process.

The Mallery Property Tax Appeal Attorneys can assist with:

• Strategic review of income and expense reports

• Gathering and presenting expert appraisal testimony

• Ensuring procedural compliance

• Litigating property tax appeals in the Wisconsin Circuit Court

Contact a Milwaukee Property Tax Lawyer 

Milwaukee’s 2025 property assessments are already shaping up to be the subject of significant review and legal challenge. With tight deadlines and a presumption in favor of the assessor, commercial property owners must act swiftly and strategically.

If you received a substantial increase in your commercial property valuation—or have questions about navigating the appeal process—our real estate and property tax attorneys are here to help.

Contact us to today to schedule a consultation before the objection deadline.

Mallery Property Tax Team

Christopher L. Strohbehn 

Russell J. Karnes

Samantha S. Bailey