GENERAL INFORMATION – TAX PAYMENTS
The property tax bill consists of tax levies from five independent taxing agencies: the State of Wisconsin; Milwaukee County; the City of South Milwaukee; Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC); and the School District of South Milwaukee. The Common Council generally sets the city’s tax levy in early December. The remaining four taxing agencies set their own tax levies and send certification of their levies to the City of South Milwaukee for placement on the combined tax bill. The tax bill reflects the percentage increase or decrease from the prior year for each respective agency. 

If you need to speak with someone from the City Treasurer’s office, please call (414) 762-2222 or (414) 768-8048. In December, you will most likely need to leave a message in our voice mail. Please be patient in receiving a return telephone call. We are extremely busy during the tax collection season and will return your call as soon as possible.

Make tax checks payable to:  CITY OF SOUTH MILWAUKEE.

Mailing Address:
City Treasurer’s Office, 2424 15th Ave, P.O. Box 367, South Milwaukee, WI 53172.

TO VERIFY RECEIPT OF YOUR TAX PAYMENT: Click on “Tax Bill Information” at the top of the page or on the button on the list at the left hand side of this page. Enter your parcel number or address to view tax payments received and the dates of payment. Please note that payment information is updated periodically. Payments received may not be reflected immediately.

Payments made after the July 31 final settlement are NOT reflected on this website. For delinquent real estate tax information after July 31, contact the Milwaukee County Treasurer’s office at 414-278-4033 or go to www.county.milwaukee.gov for more information. For delinquent personal property tax information after July 31, contact the City Treasurer’s office at 414-768-8048.

TWO COPIES OF TAX BILL: Tax bills are mailed directly to property owners by the third Monday in December. Property owners will receive two (2) copies of their tax bill. BRING BOTH COPIES of your tax bill when paying. One copy will be receipted and returned to you for your records. One copy is retained by the Treasurer’s office or local bank if paying at Tri-City National Bank or M&I Bank. If paying by mail, or using the 24-hour depository, enclose both copies of your tax bill and a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your payment.

DUE DATE FOR REAL ESTATE TAXES & PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES:
                                                    JANUARY 31

INSTALLMENT OPTION DUE DATES:  (For Real Estate Taxes)

1^st Installment – Due on or before January 31

2^nd Installment – Due on or before April 30

3^rd Installment – Due on or before July 31

The installment amounts and due dates are shown on the tax bill. Mark your calendar for payment due dates. The December tax bill is the only bill you will receive.

It is the property owner’s responsibility to make sure tax installments are paid on time.

            ***REMINDER NOTICES ARE NOT SENT IF PAYING IN INSTALLMENTS***

INTEREST AND PENALTY:   In accordance with state law, interest and penalty is assessed from February 1 at 1½% per month on the entire unpaid principal balance, fraction of a month counts as a whole month, until paid. In addition, the installment option is forfeited.

PROPERTY SOLD/NEW OWNER:  If you sold your property in 2011 you may still receive a tax bill. The Assessor’s office cannot update ownership information until notified of a change by the Milwaukee County Register of Deeds office. This can take several months after the sale. At the time bills were printed, you were listed as the owner of record for this property. If you are not the owner, please return the bill to: City Treasurer’s Office, 2424 15^th Avenue, P.O. Box 367, South Milwaukee, WI 53172.

Likewise, if you recently purchased your property and do not receive a tax bill by the third Monday in December, contact the City Treasurer’s office to request a copy of the tax bill.

WAYS TO PAY YOUR TAX BILL

PAY BY MAIL:

For December and January payments, enclose both copies of your tax bill along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. One copy of the tax bill will be retained by the Treasurer’s office and one copy will be receipted and returned to you.

For April and July payments, enclose your copy of the tax bill along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Be sure all checks are signed. If your mortgage company made an escrow check payable to YOU and THE CITY, you must sign the check before it can be accepted for payment.

Include a phone number with your payment in case questions arise.

Checks must be payable to the City of South Milwaukee.

***Mail to:        City of South Milwaukee Treasurer’s Office

2424 15^th Avenue

P.O. Box 367

South Milwaukee, WI 53172

 PAY AT THE FOLLOWING SOUTH MILWAUKEE BANKS THROUGH JANUARY 31:

 NOTE:   The tax bill must be PAID IN FULL – No installments or Partial Payments.

    •Tri-City National Bank – 2115 10^th Avenue, South Milwaukee

    Open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. & Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

    •Tri-City National Bank – 2901 S. Chicago Avenue, South Milwaukee (Inside Pick ‘n Save)

    Open Monday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

    •M&I Bank – 1001 Marquette Avenue, South Milwaukee

    Open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. &

    Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

    (Please check with the banks for their December 31 & other holiday hours.)

Bring both copies of your tax bill to the bank. The bank will retain one copy. The second copy will be stamped paid and returned to you for your records.

If your escrow check exceeds the taxes due, a refund check will be issued to you by Tri-City or M&I Bank at the time of payment.

PAYMENT MAY BE DROPPED IN THE 24-HOUR DEPOSITORY:

Deposit your tax bill (both copies in December or January), a self-addressed, stamped envelope, and your check (NO CASH) in a sealed envelope in the 24-hour depository. Be sure to sign your escrow check if payable to you and the city. The depository is located on the wall just north of the main entrance to City Hall. The depository is emptied daily. A payment placed in the depository on or before December 31 will be receipted as a 2011 payment. Include a phone number with your payment in case questions arise.

PAY BY CREDIT CARD ON-LINE OR BY TELEPHONE:

Pay your taxes on-line or by telephone using your VISA or MasterCard through Official Payments Corporation (OPC). A convenience fee of 2.75%, based on the transaction amount, is charged directly to your credit card by OPC for using this service. Call 1-800-272-9829 (1-800-2PAY-TAX) or visit www.officialpayments.com  to initiate a payment. You must have your credit card and tax bill in front of you to enter the required information when prompted. The City of South Milwaukee’s jurisdiction code is 5842.

PAY IN PERSON AT CITY HALL:

The Treasurer’s office is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the exception of holidays. If your escrow check exceeds your tax bill by more than $50.00, a refund check will be mailed to you in approximately two weeks. Debit cards and credit cards are not accepted at City Hall for payment of your taxes due to the fees incurred. See below for holiday hours for the current year.

HOLIDAY HOURS:

The Treasurer’s office will be closed on Friday, December 23, & Monday, December 26, 2011.

The Treasurer’s office will have LIMITED HOURS on Friday, December 30, 2011 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon for tax payments only.

ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF PAYMENT:

Pay by personal check, escrow check, bank or cashier’s check, money order or cash. To pay by credit card, you must use the services of Official Payments Corporation (See above).

    **We do NOT accept payments by credit card or debit card at City Hall due to the fees incurred.**

CHECKS:

Checks must be payable to:  CITY OF SOUTH MILWAUKEE

The full amount of your escrow check must be applied to the tax bill.

Make sure your escrow check is payable to the CITY OF SOUTH MILWAUKEE and not another taxing authority. Your bank or escrow agent will need to issue a new check if the payee is incorrect.

Escrow checks must be properly endorsed. Many banks make escrow checks payable to the City AND the property owner(s). If you are listed as a payee on your escrow check, you must sign the check before it can be accepted as payment. Checks not properly endorsed will be returned for signature causing delay in processing and possible delinquency.

If paying by personal check, be sure the written and numeric amounts agree. The legal amount on a check is the written amount which is what the bank processes your check for. If there is a difference, your payment could be short.

Write your parcel number and telephone number on your check in case of questions.

DO NOT POSTDATE PERSONAL CHECKS. Checks are processed on the date received.

RETURNED CHECKS:

There is a $25.00 fee for all returned checks. In addition, the tax payment is void and interest and penalty is assessed unless a replacement payment, plus returned check fee is received prior to the tax due date.

ESCROW CHECK OVERPAYMENTS: 

If paying your taxes at City Hall and your escrow check exceeds the amount of your tax bill by more than $50.00, a refund check will be mailed to you in approximately two weeks. If paying your taxes at Tri-City National Bank or M&I Bank, a refund check will be issued to you by the bank at the time of payment.

LOTTERY CREDIT:

If your real estate tax bill does not reflect a lottery credit and you qualify, complete a Lottery and Gaming Credit Application form at the City Treasurer’s office by January 31. After this date, applications must be processed through the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. You are eligible for the lottery credit if on January 1 of the year in which property taxes are levied you were the owner of the property and used the property as your PRIMARY residence. If you purchased the property after January 1, you may claim the credit provided you are able to attest that the previous owner used the property as his/her primary residence as of January 1, and you continue to use the property as your primary residence. Application forms may also be downloaded at the link below.
           
            2011 Lottery and Gaming Credit

          The Wisconsin Department of Revenue audits all claims for the lottery credit. If your real estate tax bill includes a lottery credit and you do not qualify for the credit, you will need to complete a Lottery and Gaming Credit Removal Request form at the City Treasurer’s office and pay the additional amount due.

 MAILING ADDRESS CHANGE:  All tax bills are mailed directly to the owner and permanent mailing address on record at the time the final tax roll is prepared. It is the property owner’s responsibility to keep the mailing address up-to-date. Tax bills do not forward. To change the mailing address on your tax bill, contact the City Assessor’s office at 414-768-8052.

 OTHER CONTACT INFORMATION:

Assessed value of your property - Call the ASSESSOR’S OFFICE at 768-8052.

Commercial Trash Collection Charges – Call the STREET DEPARTMENT at 768-8075.

Fire Inspection Fees – Call TAD BEUTIN at the Fire Department 768-5724.

Storm Water Utility Fees – Call the CITY ENGINEER at 768-8053.

Delinquent Water/Sewer Bills – Call the WATER UTILITY at 768-8070.

Ownership/Deed Changes – Call the MILWAUKEE COUNTY REGISTER OF DEEDS at 278-4021 or 278-4005 or go to www.county.milwaukee.gov.

Prior Year Delinquent Real Estate Taxes – Call the MILWAUKEE COUNTY TREASURER’S OFFICE at 278-4033 or go to www.county.milwaukee.gov.

Prior Year Delinquent Personal Property Taxes – Call the CITY TREASURER’S OFFICE at 768-8048.

WATER/SEWER BILLS:

***FOR BILLING QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL
THE SOUTH MILWAUKEE WATER UTILITY
  AT (414) 768-8070***

Water and Sewer bills are issued tri-annually by the South Milwaukee Water Utility as follows:

            1st District:   January, May, September               3^rd District:   March, July, November     

            2^nd District:   April, August, December                4^th District:   February, June, October

Payment is due by the 20^th of the billing month. If the 20^th falls on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, and City Hall is closed, your payment will be considered timely if paid on the following business day.

Make checks payable to:  South Milwaukee Water Utility. Do NOT postdate personal checks.

PAYMENT OPTIONS FOR YOUR WATER/SEWER BILL:

Payment may be made in person at:

•South Milwaukee Treasurer’s office - 2424 15th Avenue

 Open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

•Tri-City National Bank – 2115 10^th Avenue, South Milwaukee

 Open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.; Saturday 9:00 a.m. to Noon

 •Tri-City National Bank – 2901 S. Chicago Avenue, South Milwaukee (Inside Pick ‘N Save)

  Open 7 Days a week from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.

 Payment may be mailed to:

            South Milwaukee Water Utility, P.O. Box 130, South Milwaukee, WI 53172

 Payment may be dropped in the 24-hour depository:

Place Water/Sewer payment stub and check (NO CASH) in sealed envelope in the 24-hour depository. The depository is located on the wall just north of the main entrance to City Hall. The depository is emptied daily.

DOG AND CAT LICENSES

Dogs and cats over 5 months of age must be licensed. The license year commences January 1 and ends December 31. Licenses must be renewed prior to April 1 to avoid a late fee.

You must present your pet’s Certificate of Rabies Vaccination showing the date of vaccination and expiration date along with the tag number before a license can be issued if the information on the renewal notice is blank, incorrect or expired, or if applying for a new license. You may mail in the rabies certificate, along with your renewal notice and license fee, and it will be returned to you with the new license.

2011 pet license fees:

            •  $24.00 for dogs or cats that are not spayed or neutered / Plus $12.00 Late fee after March 31

            •  $12.00 for dogs or cats that are spayed or neutered / Plus $6.00 Late fee after March 31

RENEWAL POSTCARDS FROM MADACC:

The Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission (MADACC) oversees the pet licensing program. For 2011 license renewals, pet owners will receive a POSTCARD in the mail in December. YOU MUST BRING THE POSTCARD WITH YOU OR MAIL THE POSTCARD WITH YOUR PAYMENT IN ORDER TO RENEW THE LICENSE. You must also provide your pet’s rabies certificate if the rabies vaccination information is not shown on the postcard or has expired.

RENEW OR APPLY FOR A NEW PET LICENSE ONLINE BY CREDIT CARD:

Renew your dog’s or cat’s license or apply for a new license online using your credit card. Go to www.madacc.com. MADACC will mail you the new license. 

RENEW OR APPLY FOR A NEW PET LICENSE BY MAIL OR IN PERSON:

Renew your pet’s license by mailing or bringing in the postcard, license fee, and rabies certificate, if required, to City Hall or MADACC at the locations listed below:

            City of South Milwaukee Treasurer’s Office

            2424 15^th Avenue

            P.O. Box 367

            South Milwaukee, WI 53172

            Make check payable to:  City of South Milwaukee

            **OR**

            Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission (MADACC)

            3839 W. Burnham Street

            West Milwaukee, WI 53215

            Make check payable to:  MADACC

MADACC also offers rabies vaccinations and microchipping for your pet. Call 414-649-8640 or go to www.madacc.com for more information.

 MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PETS:

The City of South Milwaukee limits the number of dogs and cats a pet owner may have. A maximum of three (3) pets is allowed to be kept upon any premise. 

 PIT BULLS PROHIBITED:

The City of South Milwaukee prohibits the keeping of a Pit Bull or mixed breed that contains an element of Pit Bull within the city limits. For more information, contact the South Milwaukee Police Department at 768-8060.

The City Treasurer’s office is responsible for the receipting and recording of all monies due to the city. The city’s accounts are monitored daily and surplus funds are invested. The Treasurer’s office oversees the city’s bank accounts. Various accounting duties are performed by this office. Tax bills are printed by the Treasurer’s office. Property taxes are collected from December through July and the pro-rata share of taxes due to the State of Wisconsin, Milwaukee County, MATC, and the School District of South Milwaukee is calculated and processed by the Treasurer’s office pursuant to state statutes.  

The Treasurer’s office also collects water and sewer bills, maintains and collects Special Assessments, issues dog and cat licenses, collects ambulance invoices and follows-up on past due accounts.