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Council approves three‑year settlement over Froedtert property assessment
Summary
The Common Council unanimously approved a three‑year settlement resolving repeated assessment challenges by Froedtert (a specialized, vacant clinic property); staff said the building's single‑use design limited its market and the city will reassess if future use changes.
The Waukesha Common Council unanimously authorized a three‑year settlement to resolve repeated legal challenges to the property assessment on a former Froedtert clinic.
City Attorney Brian told the council the building is a "very dedicated single purpose type of building," which constrains market comparables and drove settlement negotiations. "This proposed settlement is for 3 years," he said, explaining that settling controls risk and produces a refund that will be apportioned pro rata among taxing jurisdictions.
Sam, who joined the presentation, said the building has been vacant since Lifecare vacated in June 2019 and that the city has been issuing information requests annually to determine intended use. "When the time comes where they either sell it or they are able to find someone to lease that property out, then we will reassess it based on the use at that time," Sam said, noting the lower assessed value may not be permanent if the property returns to active use.
Council members questioned the fairness of taxpayers bearing settlement costs for a nonmarketable private building; Brian replied that assessors must follow market value. After discussion about funding and reserves, Alderman Wilson moved to approve the settlement, a second was made and the motion passed unanimously.
The settlement authorizes the city attorney to execute the agreement and directs staff to make the necessary refund payments as outlined in the agreement.
