Bad ruling by Department of Revenue

Folks, you had better wake up in this County (Kewaunee), and other Counties across the State of Wisconsin! The letter to the editor below, written by a Kewaunee Cares leader, also appeared in the Cap Times. 

Here is what "she" didn't tell you in this missile!

This case represented in her letter to the editor was centered on the Kliment property just off County D, near the Ebert Farm.  After the re-assessment was made by the DOR (Department of Revenue) with flawed, irrelevant data, the DOR (being intimidated by Kewaunee Cares attendees at the hearing), ruled in favor of the Kliments, lowering their assessed value.  By lowering the assessed value for the land and property from $245,000 to $213,000, the overall tax reduction amounted to about $600 for the Kliments.  HOW DOES THE COUNTY AND TOWNSHIP MAKE UP THAT REVENUE?  OTHER TAXPAYERS IN THE COUNTY HAVE TO MAKE IT UP!

This was an appeal to the DOR of the value of one property in one township in Kewaunee County. There were no other appeals heard by the Green Bay DOR for that same reason - the proximity to a large farm. Yet the DOR reported in their findings that these reductions can be applied across Kewaunee County.

Now think about that for a minute.  Let's assume next year there are 100 of these adjustments and assume for a minute the average tax adjustment is $600 that's $60,000.  Now this issue gets more interesting.  Remember, other taxpayers have to make up the difference.

Nancy Utesch in the letter below says property values have plunged as a result of CAFOs.  I would maintain any loss in property values in this County have been a result of the bad press we continue to get from Utesch and the likes of Lee Luft.

I will be providing more details on this going forward.  It is an important issue and the rest of the taxpayers must stand up and be counted.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Posted by Warren Bluhm | Apr 5, 2018 | Kewaunee County, Opinion | 0  |     

Letter by Nancy Utesch, Kewaunee

CAFOs, concentrated animal feeding operations, continue to proliferate throughout beautiful Wisconsin resulting in citizenry throughout the state left to suffer the resulting plunging values on what is, for most, their greatest asset—their home.

It is imperative that all Wisconsin’s citizenry left disenfranchised by this agribusiness model in their neighborhood realize that there is recourse for the loss of value of their homes. In November 2017, the Department of Revenue determined that Kewaunee residents living within a mile of a confined animal feeding operation, and suffering the well-known impacts, had lost 8 percent of their entire assessed home value, while homes within a quarter-mile radius were reduced by 13 percent.

Each case handled by the Department of Revenue is unique, and if one’s homestead has tainted water caused by the operation or more egregious impacts, reductions may prove greater.

Wisconsinites who are impacted by CAFOs should understand that there is recourse and should contact their assessors during the open book period to discuss getting their property value assessment reduced.

If the assessor does not reduce your assessment, homeowners can request a board of review from your town. If the town declines your property tax reduction, you can than appeal to the Department of Revenue, as was done in Kewaunee County.

CAFOs, and their expansions, considerably change the neighborhood – and the desirability to dwell in such a location. Taxpayers should not be left to foot the bill on a home whose value has depreciated greatly due to CAFO proximity.
Nancy Utesch
Kewaunee