City of Marshfield Explains Special Assessments for Street Improvement Projects

MARSHFIELD, WI (OnFocus) – As the summer months have seen numerous street improvement projects within the City of Marshfield, property owners in the affected areas may have received bills for these projects. The City would like to clarify the purpose and necessity of these Special Assessments, which are crucial for funding public works projects that directly benefit properties.

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A Special Assessment is a fee imposed on a property to recover a portion or the entirety of the costs associated with a public infrastructure project that enhances the value and utility of the property. This additional cost to property owners comes in light of the fact that taxes are already being paid.

“Communities have been able to specially assess property owners to recover the cost of public improvements for over 100 years,” explained Josh Mauritz, City Engineer at the City of Marshfield. “The procedure for levying special assessments is set forth in the statutes at Wis. Stat. sec. 66.0703.”

A Special Assessment is a one-time charge per project, however, if a property undergoes a reconstruction project after the initial improvement has exceeded its intended service life, a future Special Assessment might be applied. This assessment could also be prorated if reconstruction is deemed necessary prior to the intended service life being reached. Property owners have the option to pay the Special Assessment over a span of several years.

Before the commencement of a project, property owners receive an estimate of their projected Special Assessment, based on preliminary assumptions made prior to the bidding process. Final Special Assessment amounts are mailed in the spring following the completion of the previous year’s construction. The time taken to ascertain the actual construction costs, which can vary from initial estimates due to bid prices or changes in project scope, accounts for the timing of this communication.

To address inquiries and concerns related to Special Assessments, property owners can reach out to the City Engineer, Josh Mauritz, directly at 715-486-2034 or via email at [email protected].

Moreover, all impacted property owners receive a notification containing the estimated Special Assessment, accompanied by a notice of a Public Hearing. This hearing offers a platform for citizens to voice their concerns and opinions. The Public Hearing is typically scheduled at the commencement of a Common Council meeting, ensuring that citizen concerns are heard by the City’s governing body.

The City of Marshfield Special Assessment Policy can be found in Article IV of the Public Works chapter of the City’s Municipal Code – here.

The League of Wisconsin Municipalities FAQ page on this subject can be found here.

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