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County's property value up 4.8 percent

By GENE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
Portage County's equalized property valuation for 2003 increased 4.8 percent.

That compares to 2002, when the county had a 3.6 percent increase, the 11th lowest growth rate in Wisconsin.

"This is kind of an average year," said Bo DeDeker, county finance director. "This will still leave the county kind of tied. We will probably still have to cut half-a-million dollars out of the budget."

The Wisconsin Department of Revenue, which computes the equalized property valuation report, said the county's valuation increased from $3,560,032,100 to $3,730,747,700, an increase of $170,715,600.
The big change in valuation came in towns, which showed an 8.41 percent increase in valuation. The biggest hike was 22.86 percent in the town of Buena Vista, followed by a 14.95 percent increase in the town of Plover and a 13.72 percent rise in the town of Amherst.

"Towns are really high," DeDeker said. "They went up 8.41 percent versus the city going up 0.53 percent because forest crop land went up."

The city's low percentage increase, he said, was due to "homes that were selling in the city were not selling for the same prices as out in the towns."

The town of Plover increase is a reversal from 2002, when the town's valuation went down 14.6 percent after the value of manufacturing dropped 70 percent.

Although the valuation increase is about average, DeDeker said that any increase will help the county Finance Committee meet its goal of not raising the mill rate for taxes.

That may prove more difficult, he said, because there's a move to have the county fund the Humane Society costs for animal control instead of the individual municipalities doing so.

Every town increased in valuation. Alban went up 9.63 percent; Grant, 9.35; Sharon, 8.33; Almond, 7.88; Linwood, 7.22; Lanark, 7.01; New Hope, 6.28; Hull, 6.04; Eau Pleine, 5.98; Pine Grove, 5.35; Stockton, 5.33; Carson, 5.27; Dewey, 3.34; and Belmont, 5.01.

The valuation for villages increased 4.28 percent, led by Amherst Junction, which showed a hike of 15.1 percent to $19,429,200. The next highest increase was 6.76 percent for Junction City. Whiting saw its valuation decrease by 0.55 percent to $116,740,400.

Other increases for villages were Rosholt, 6.66; Plover, 4.98; Amherst, 4.67; Almond, 4.39; Nelsonville, 3; and Park Ridge, 1.66.

Stevens Point's equalized valuation went from $1,197,238,900 to $1,203,617,900, including manufacturing.

Carol Kuehn, Stevens Point assessor, said the city's assessed valuation, excluding manufacturing, is $1,137,346,320. The state values all manufacturing and then sends the amount of that valuation to the city for tax purposes. The manufacturing valuation excludes machinery and equipment, which the state taxes.



	County's property value up 4.8 percent By GENE KEMMETER of The Gazette Portage County's equalized property valuation for 2003 increased 4.8 percent. That compares to 2002, when the county had a 3.6 percent increase, the 11th lowest growth rate in Wisconsin. "This is kind of an average year," said Bo DeDeker, county finance director. "This will still leave the county kind of tied. We will probably still have to cut half-a-million dollars out of the budget." The Wisconsin Department of Revenue, which computes the equalized property valuation report, said the county's valuation increased from $3,560,032,100 to $3,730,747,700, an increase of $170,715,600. The big change in valuation came in towns, which showed an 8.41 percent increase in valuation. The biggest hike was 22.86 percent in the town of Buena Vista, followed by a 14.95 percent increase in the town of Plover and a 13.72 percent rise in the town of Amherst. "Towns are really high," DeDeker said. "They went up 8.41 percent versus the city going up 0.53 percent because forest crop land went up." The city's low percentage increase, he said, was due to "homes that were selling in the city were not selling for the same prices as out in the towns." The town of Plover increase is a reversal from 2002, when the town's valuation went down 14.6 percent after the value of manufacturing dropped 70 percent. Although the valuation increase is about average, DeDeker said that any increase will help the county Finance Committee meet its goal of not raising the mill rate for taxes. That may prove more difficult, he said, because there's a move to have the county fund the Humane Society costs for animal control instead of the individual municipalities doing so. Every town increased in valuation. Alban went up 9.63 percent; Grant, 9.35; Sharon, 8.33; Almond, 7.88; Linwood, 7.22; Lanark, 7.01; New Hope, 6.28; Hull, 6.04; Eau Pleine, 5.98; Pine Grove, 5.35; Stockton, 5.33; Carson, 5.27; Dewey, 3.34; and Belmont, 5.01. The valuation for villages increased 4.28 percent, led by Amherst Junction, which showed a hike of 15.1 percent to $19,429,200. The next highest increase was 6.76 percent for Junction City. Whiting saw its valuation decrease by 0.55 percent to $116,740,400. Other increases for villages were Rosholt, 6.66; Plover, 4.98; Amherst, 4.67; Almond, 4.39; Nelsonville, 3; and Park Ridge, 1.66. Stevens Point's equalized valuation went from $1,197,238,900 to $1,203,617,900, including manufacturing. Carol Kuehn, Stevens Point assessor, said the city's assessed valuation, excluding manufacturing, is $1,137,346,320. The state values all manufacturing and then sends the amount of that valuation to the city for tax purposes. The manufacturing valuation excludes machinery and equipment, which the state taxes.