Property Taxes
Property taxes are due by Jan. 31 (full payment or first installment) and July 31 (second installment) each year. The City Clerk-Treasurer is responsible for collecting taxes for the State, Green Lake County, Markesan District Schools, Moraine Park Technical College, and the City of Markesan. Each of these entities sets their own budget and notifies the Clerk-Treasurer of the amount that must be entered on the tax bills and collected on their behalf.
Property tax bills are mailed out in mid-December, as soon as all of the information is received from the various taxing jurisdictions, compiled and submitted to the Green Lake County Treasurer's office. Full payments or first installments are payable to the City of Markesan by Jan. 31. Second installments are payable to the Green Lake County Treasurer by July 31. Please note: Green Lake County cannot accept first installment payments for the City of Markesan, and likewise, the City of Markesan cannot accept second installment payments for Green Lake County. Please make sure that you make your checks payable to the correct entity.
Tax Payment Options for City of Markesan
There are several options for payment of your property taxes. For taxes payable to the City of Markesan (full or first installments by Jan. 31), you may pay in the following ways:
1. Mail your check payment to City Hall:
City of Markesan
PO Box 352
Markesan, WI 53946
When mailing your payment, if you want a receipt, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
2. Make your cash/check/credit or debit card payment in person at City Hall during regular office hours
Office hours are Monday-Friday, 8am - 4pm. Please note, that due to audit guidelines, change for an overpayment (whether by cash or check) cannot be given at the time of payment. A check refund will be issued and mailed. If paying by cash, please bring exact change to avoid the need to issue a refund check. Also, if the change due is less than $1.00, no refund will be issued.
3. Pay online with a credit/debit card.
You may make your tax payment online with a credit or debit card. Please note there is a service fee for this option. The service fee is a percentage based on your total payment amount. You will know the amount of the service fee prior to authorizing payment. You will need the parcel number, property address and tax bill number (all three items can be found on your tax bill).
Lottery Tax Credit
The Wisconsin property where you have your primary residence may be eligible for a Lottery Tax Credit. Business properties, rental units, vacant land or other properties that are not your primary residence are not eligible for the credit. You must also be a Wisconsin resident to qualify. If you have questions about the property tax credit, please contact the Green Lake County Treasurer's office at (920) 294-4018.
If you are not currently receiving this credit and believe you are eligible, please go the Wisconsin Department of Revenue's website and complete the appropriate Lottery and Gaming Credit Application.
Tax Rates
The City does not have control over the total tax rate, but only the portion of the tax related to the budget established by the City Council for City operations. What things are covered by the City budget? Maintenance of City roads, police & fire protection services, snow removal, park maintenance, Council and Committee wages, City employee wages and benefits, trash and recycling services, and elections costs are some of the items on which your tax dollars are spent. For example, in 2018 these services have been paid by just 37.91% of your total taxes. That means for every $1.00 in property taxes collected, the City keeps about $0.38. The remaining $0.62 is sent to the other taxing jurisdictions.
For example, if you pay $1000 in property taxes, only about $379.10 is retained by the City. The remaining $620.90 is collected and then distributed to the State, County, Technical College and School District.
If you have questions about Property Taxes, please call the Green Lake County Treasurer's Office at (920) 294-4018.