Milwaukee officials outline ordinance changes after state Act 207 reshapes tax-foreclosure sales

Milwaukee city attorneys and Department of City Development officials told the Common Council Judiciary and Legislation Committee on Oct. 26 that 2023 Wisconsin Act 207 and the U.S. Supreme Court decision Tyler v. Hennepin County require changes to how the city handles properties obtained through tax foreclosure.

Evan Goike, Milwaukee city attorney, said the state law and the Supreme Court decision “preclude foreclosing jurisdictions from retaining any equity in the property.” He told the committee the statute sets firm deadlines and valuation rules that force municipalities to move properties into sale listings more quickly and list them at an appraised or fair-market value.

The committee heard three practical changes staff are building into a proposed city ordinance: (1) a shortened listing window (the statute moves the standard deadline to 180 days from judgment, down from 240 days this year), (2) a requirement to list…