DOR Public Hearing on 2025 Fremont Reassessment Takes Place Tonight

Village of Fremont, WI- The Wisconsin Department of Revenue will conduct a public hearing in the Village of Fremont on Monday, January 26, at 5:00 PM at the Fremont Village Hall as part of a state review of the Village’s 2025 property assessments.

The hearing is being held under Wisconsin Statute 70.75, a state law that allows property owners to petition the Department of Revenue to review a municipality’s assessment practices. The petition was initiated by a group of Fremont residents following the Village’s 2025 reassessment and met the legal threshold required for state review.

Once a valid 70.75 petition is filed, state law requires the Department of Revenue, not the Village, to schedule and conduct a public hearing in the municipality. The Village is required to provide the meeting location and publish the notice but does not control the process, findings, or outcome of the hearing.

What Is a 70.75 Petition? A 70.75 petition is a process under Wisconsin law that allows property owners to request a state review of a municipality’s property assessment practices after a reassessment has been completed. If property owners representing at least five percent of a municipality’s total assessed property value file a petition, the Wisconsin Department of Revenue is required to investigate. This includes holding a public hearing in the municipality and reviewing assessment uniformity and compliance with state law. A 70.75 petition does not automatically mean assessments were incorrect and does not immediately change property values or tax bills. Any action taken is determined by the Department of Revenue after completing its review.

What the hearing involves

The hearing will be presided over by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. Attendees will be asked to sign in, and anyone wishing to speak must complete a request to speak form. Time limits will apply, including up to 30 minutes for the petition’s first signer or a group presentation and 15 minutes for other speakers.

During the hearing, the Department of Revenue will gather testimony and evidence related to whether the Village’s 2025 property assessments were conducted in substantial compliance with state law and applied uniformly among taxpayers.

The hearing itself does not result in immediate assessment changes.

Possible outcomes and potential cost impact

After completing its investigation, the Department of Revenue may:

• Dismiss the petition

• Deny the petition

• Order a supervised assessment or revaluation in a future year

• Order a full reassessment of all taxable property

If a full reassessment is ordered, the cost would be borne by the Village. A State mandated reassement would be coordinated and conducted by going door-to-door throughout the entire Village. This process could cost the Village tens of thousands of dollars and would be an unplanned municipal expense, regardless of whether individual property values increase or decrease as a result.

Additionally, all costs associated with the Department of Revenue’s investigation, hearing, and any supervision of a reassessment are the responsibility of the municipality under state law.

A reminder about taxes and the Village levy

It is important for residents to understand that while individual property assessments changed following the 2025 reassessment, the Village of Fremont did not increase its tax levy. The Village is collecting the same total amount of tax revenue as before.

A reassessment does not generate additional money for the Village. Instead, it redistributes the existing levy more evenly based on updated property values. Some property owners may see higher assessments while others see lower ones, but the overall amount collected by the Village remains unchanged.

This distinction is often misunderstood during reassessment years. Changes in assessed value reflect shifts in market value, not a decision by the Village to raise taxes.

What residents should know

This hearing is a state-run process triggered by the filing of a valid petition following the 2025 reassessment. It is intended to provide oversight and ensure that assessment practices meet state standards for accuracy and uniformity.

Residents may attend the hearing, observe the proceedings, and provide comments in accordance with the Department of Revenue’s rules.

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