By Keith Strey

Marshfield City Finance Director

Annually, the City of Marshfield Finance Department mails out property tax statements by the third Monday of December as required by State Law. As Mayor Meyer stated in his Oct. 1, 2014 “The City Speaks” article, property tax bills include taxes collected for more than just the city of Marshfield.

Wisconsin statutes require the city to collect property taxes levied for five taxing jurisdictions, which include the city, school district, technical college, county, and state of Wisconsin. Marshfield has property located in two counties (Wood and Marathon), which means the City Finance Department collects and distributes property taxes, per state law requirements, for six taxing jurisdictions in total.

The following tables provide a breakdown of tax rates by the six taxing jurisdictions and comparison information from the prior year:

The state school levies credit provides direct relief to taxpayers by reducing the amount owed on their property tax bills. The credit is allocated to municipalities based on their share of statewide school levies during the previous three years. Municipalities allocate the credit to individual taxpayers in proportion to the taxpayer’s share of the municipality’s total assessed value.

In order to qualify for the lottery and gaming credit, an owner must be a Wisconsin resident, the owner of the dwelling, and use the dwelling as his or her primary residence. To receive the credit, an eligible property owner must file an application with the treasurer of the county in which the property is located or, if the property is located in a city that collects taxes, with the treasurer of that city.

A person who is eligible for the credit as of the certification date but whose property tax bill does not reflect the credit may, by January 31 following the issuance of the person’s property tax bill, claim the credit by applying to the municipal treasurer in which the property is located. For more information and forms, go to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue website at revenue.wi.gov.

First Dollar Credit is similar to the lottery credit but only applies to improved real estate property. First Dollar Credit does not apply for buildings of leased lands or personal property mobile homes. It does apply on all rentals, businesses, and manufacturing buildings. Property owners with buildings on numerous parcels can get more than one First Dollar Credit. No application is required to be submitted as it is automatically applied to all qualifying properties.

Property taxes can be paid using one of four options.

1. By mail (Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. A receipt is requested.)
2. Online via the City of Marshfield website at ci.marshfield.wi.us
3. Pay in person at the City of Marshfield Finance Department – fifth floor City Hall
4. Pay in person at Citizens State Bank of Loyal