Altoona Board of Review Meeting and 2026 Assessment Review – August 26, 2026

The City of Altoona, Wisconsin, Board of Review met at 4:00 PM on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, in the Council Chambers at Altoona City Hall, 1303 Lynn Avenue. With five members present, the board confirmed its noticing and training requirements, received the assessor's annual report on the 2026 market reevaluation (intermarket update), reviewed the assessment roll and performed its statutory duties, and handled 131 property assessment changes. No taxpayer petitions or objections were filed, no additional Board of Review dates were scheduled, and the meeting adjourned at approximately 7:00 PM.

Administrative Confirmations

• Roll call established a quorum: Chairman Matthew Beeran, Vice-Chairperson Susan Rowe, and members Dale Stuber, Bruce Thielen, and Susie Zilmer were present; Mayor Brendan Bratt and Councilperson Timothy Lima were absent. Attorney Samba Kanson, City Clerk Cindy Bauer (Board Secretary), Deputy Clerk Julie Oliver, and Assessor Megan Bickford of Accurate Appraisal also attended.
• The clerk verified that open book and Board of Review notices were posted and published on April 24, 2026, and remained on the city website and at the library, City Hall, and the post office.
• The board confirmed that Chapter 2.44.020 of the city ordinance provides for confidentiality of income and expense information.
• Chairman Beeran and Vice-Chairperson Rowe were confirmed in their roles, having been appointed at the May 28, 2026, initial Board of Review meeting.
• Training requirements were verified: Susie Zilmer, Dale Stuber, Clerk Cindy Bauer, and Deputy Clerk Julie Oliver attended Board of Review training on April 18, 2026. The clerk noted that at least one member must be certified each year and that certifications run on a two-year cycle.
• The assessment roll and assessor's affidavit were received from Megan Bickford, who was sworn in as assessor after already signing the official oath.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No petitioners appeared before the board, and no objections or notices of intent to object were filed.
• A board member relayed constituent concerns from the Otter Creek Trail area: residents reported their land values had more than doubled in one year, while a neighbor with a similarly sized lot, purchased when the subdivision was built, was assessed much less. The member noted the constituents had already spoken with the assessor. The chairman added that a citizen had raised the same issue at a prior meeting and expressed appreciation that it had been addressed.

Discussion Items

• Assessor Megan Bickford presented the annual assessment report for the 2026 market reevaluation (intermarket update):
  • Residential property values increased by an average of 11.26%; commercial property values changed by about 8.36%.
  • Land values were reassessed, with many parcels seeing roughly a 20% increase in land value.
  • Assessors visited 56 parcels, reviewed 1,955 building permits, and analyzed 255 sales, of which 151 were usable (parent-to-child, death-related, and similar transactions were excluded).
  • There were 31 open book appointments, 145 residential interactions, and 42 commercial interactions.
  • Bickford stated that 2027 will be a maintenance year, with values rolled over unless a property change (such as a building permit) occurs.
• Land valuation methodology: Bickford explained that land adjustments were based on vacant land sales and sales of improved properties. Market analysis indicated buyers are paying for location, so value was shifted to the land, with the most affected neighborhoods seeing increases from about $2 per square foot to up to $6 per square foot. Standardized pricing structures were implemented to make land valuation more consistent and equitable across the community.
• Otter Creek Trail influences: Bickford said some lots previously carried positive influences (e.g., views, valued at up to 35% higher) and others carried negative influences (e.g., steep yards). The reassessment removed those influences and equalized all lots in that community at $6.25 per square foot, with one lot over an acre receiving a negative influence. She stated this explains why some owners saw much larger increases while others saw little change.
• Roll corrections: 18 omitted property values were added to the roll, resulting from an error that failed to include second-floor square footage on some new townhouses. Jason Gripenchrop was informed of the value missed in 2025 and is expected to pay it this year. No corrections of error were certified under Wis. Stat. sec. 70.43.
• Assessment changes: 112 parcels were changed before open book notices went out on July 27, 2026; 19 additional changes were made after the open book period with signed waivers, for a total of 131 parcels changed. Per the assessor, none of the changes were increases. The clerk confirmed that all open book changes were included in the assessment roll.

Key Outcomes

• The board reviewed the assessment roll, confirmed that open book changes were included, and completed its statutory duties without formal objections.
• The board determined that no additional Board of Review dates were needed.
• A motion to adjourn was made by Dale Stuber, seconded, and carried on a voice vote at approximately 7:00 PM (the agenda notes that roll call votes are required for Board decisions).