October 25, 2023
Town of Milton, Buffalo County
Dear Property Owner,
A Revaluation Assessment of all Real Property for the Municipality will be conducted from
October 25, 2023, through December 1, 2023, and June 1, 2024, to October 31, 2024. Please
note the following from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue:
Section 70.05(5)(b), Wis. Stats. – Trespass
The trespass bill, which was signed November 12, 2009, states in part “Before a city, village,
or town assessor conducts a revaluation of property under this paragraph [Section 70.05(5)(b)
Wis. Stats.], the city, village or town shall publish a notice on its municipal Web site that a
revaluation will occur and the approximate dates of the property revaluation. The notice shall
also describe the authority of an assessor, under Section 943.13, Wis. Stats. And Section
943.15, Wis. Stats., to enter land. If a municipality does not have a Web site, it shall post the
required information in at least 3 public places within the city, village or town.”.)
The trespass law entitles the assessor to enter a property once during an assessment cycle
unless the property owner authorizes additional visits. If the property owner denies the
assessor access to the property, the assessor must maintain a list of denied entries. Sections
943.13 and 943.15 pertain to the entry onto the property. Assessors and their staff should
understand the conditions included in these statutes. The major conditions for entry are
listed below:
-The reason for the entry must be to make an assessment on behalf of the state or a
political subdivision.
-The entry must be on a weekday during daylight hours, or at another time as agreed
upon with the property owner.
-The assessor’s visit must not be more than one hour.
-The assessor must not open doors, enter through open doors, or look into windows of
structures.
-If the property owner or occupant is not present, the assessor must leave a notice on the
principal building providing the owner information on how to contact them.
-The assessor may not enter the premises if they have received a notice from the property
owner or occupant denying them entry.
-The assessor must leave if the property owner or occupant asks them to leave.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact our office.
Sincerely,
Eric Kleven, Assessor