In the 13 years Nick Schweitzer has lived on the west side of Wauwatosa, the property assessment revaluation notice the city mailed him in mid-July 2025 is higher than any he's seen before.
Schweitzer's home has been assessed at $469,800 for 2025, more than double his $231,900 city assessment from 2024. A private assessment he had done on the home in 2024 estimated his home's worth at $285,000.
“I’ve never gotten one even remotely close to this," Schweitzer told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, calling this year's increase "astronomical."
He's not the only one who saw a hike in his property assessment when the Wauwatosa Assessor's Office did a revaluation in July for 2025.
On average, commercial and residential properties assessments have increased about 54% city-wide for 2025, according to City Assessor Sarah Tyrrell. That jump is in part because the last revaluation conducted in Wauwatosa was in 2019, she said.
Property values have grown in Wauwatosa since 2019, playing a role in the higher assessments, Tyrrell said.
"The assessments that residents are getting now is a reflection of six years of market appreciation," Tyrrell said.
An increased assessment doesn't automatically equal higher taxes for all residents, Tyrrell told the Journal Sentinel. The final tax bills will depend on other factors, she said, like the city's 2026 budget decisions and the school district.
Residents can use the city's property tax calculator to find out a rough estimate of how the 2025 revaluation may impact their taxes.
Here's what to know about property assessment changes, and how long residents have to ask questions about an increase in their assessment.
What are property assessments, and why do they increase?
A property assessment is the estimated amount of worth assigned to a taxable property for tax purposes.
The market value of Wauwatosa real estate has grown since the last city-wide revaluation in 2019, according to Tyrrell.
State law requires all property assessments to be within 10% of the market value, and that's why Wauwatosa had to do a revaluation this year.
What are Wauwatosa's assessment changes based on?
There isn't necessarily a trend of which neighborhood or type of home in Wauwatosa that's seeing an increase because the assessment is based on a variety of factors, Tyrrell told the Journal Sentinel.
"We're looking at the same things that buyers look at," Tyrrell said.
The Assessor's Office looks at the type of home, as well as its age, square footage, and condition to determine market value. How large a yard is, and any recent remodeling, can also play a role in an assessment.
The Assessor's Office obtains that information from city records, which may be updated in the time between revaluation years based on changes to a property that come forward in building permits or if the home is put on the market, Tyrrell said.
The Assessor's Office also shares the city's records on each owner's property via postcard, asking residents to tell the office of any changes the city needs to make.
Does an increase in my assessment mean my Wauwatosa property taxes will go up?
An increase in a resident's assessment does not necessarily equate to an increase in their tax bill, Tyrrell said. Some residents' taxes will increase, however.
This year, if someone's assessment increase is less than 54%, they can generally expect their tax bill to remain the same or go down, Tyrrell said. If a property owner has seen an increase of more than 54%, they can probably guess that their tax bill will go up, she said.
In 2024, the average home in Wauwatosa was assessed at $274,100 and following the revaluation, the new average is $422,800, according to the city's property tax calculator.
More: See Wauwatosa's recent most expensive home sales--even as price increases are moderating
How can Wauwatosa residents ask questions about their property assessments?
As of July 29, residents have a little less than three weeks to review their assessment, ask questions and, if they believe the assessment is erroneous, submit an objection.
Residents can complete the city's Contact Inquiry Form, and upload or call (414) 479-8969 to start conversations with the Assessor's Office.
Through Aug. 15, the Assessor's Office is hosting an open book review period on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
During that time, residents can bring supporting documents for the Assessor's Office to consider whether an update is needed for the assessment.
The city encourages visiting or calling during the open book hours before filing an official objection form, according to Eva Ennamorato, city communications manager.
Those who feel the value of their property is overstated can file a formal written objection to the Board of Review.
Objection forms on Wauwatosa property assessments are due Aug. 16
Objection forms are due to the clerk's office by 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16. A hearing would then be scheduled for the board to determine whether the objection is valid.
Once the board reviews all open objection cases, the assessor can close the revaluation process, according to Tyrrell.
Residents can contact the Board of Review at [email protected] to request or submit formal objection forms.
Bridget Fogarty covers Brookfield, Wauwatosa and Elm Grove for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be contacted at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Property assessments in 2025 have jumped 54% in Wauwatosa. Here's why.
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