Pewaukee board sustains assessor's valuation after homeowner cites deferred maintenance

The City of Pewaukee Board of Review on Monday upheld the assessor's valuation in an appeal by homeowner Vicky Pajasic, who told the board she could not afford extensive repairs to a 1970 house with original, oversized windows, a bowed garage roof and other deferred maintenance.

Pajasic, who was sworn and testified to the condition of the house and provided photos and earlier contractor quotes, said the home's large windows and other repairs would cost tens of thousands of dollars. She told the board her homeowner's opinion of value was $303,600.

City appraisal staff responded with three comparable sales from the Spring Creek Lakeview neighborhood and described a grading and condition adjustment for deferred maintenance. The assessor's presentation concluded that adjusted comparable values supported an assessed value of $351,200 after accounting for condition downgrades.

During questioning board members and staff discussed the Markarian hierarchy of evidence for assessments (sale of the subject, comparable sales, then cost/income approaches), how crawl spaces and below‑grade areas are treated in adjustments, and whether driveways or landscaping are reflected in the assessment. The assessor said driveways and landscaping are not separately valued but that the condition of the home is reflected in grading and condition ratings.

After closing testimony the board moved that the assessor's evaluation be sustained and found that the property owner had not presented sufficient evidence to overcome the statutory presumption that the assessor's valuation is correct. The board recorded its roll call vote in favor of sustaining the valuation.

No further appeals or procedural next steps were announced at the hearing. The board then recessed and proceeded to additional matters on the agenda.