70.06 Assessments, where made; first class city districts; assessors; appointment, removal.

(1) In cities of the 1st class the assessment of property for taxation shall be under the direction of the city commissioner of assessments, who shall perform such duties in relation thereto as are prescribed by the common council, and the assessment rolls of the city shall be made as the council directs, except where such city of the 1st class is under the jurisdiction of a county assessor under s. 70.99. Manufacturing property subject to s. 70.995 shall be assessed according to that section.

(2) The commissioner of assessments may, with the approval of the common council, appoint one chief assessor, one or more supervising assessors and supervising assessor assistants, one or more property appraisers, and other expert technical personnel that the commissioner of assessments considers to be necessary in order that all valuations throughout the city are uniformly made in accordance with the law. The chief assessor, supervising assessors, and supervising assessor assistants shall exercise the direction and supervision over assessment procedure and shall perform the duties in relation to the assessment of property that the commissioner of assessments determines. Together with the chief assessor and the assessment analysis manager, they shall be members of the board of assessors and shall hold office in the same manner as assessors. Certification of the assessment roll shall be limited to the members of the board of assessors.

(3m) No person may assume the office of commissioner of assessments, chief assessor, assessment analysis manager, systems and administration supervisor, title records supervisor, supervising assessor, supervising assessor assistant, or property appraiser appointed under sub. (2), unless certified by the department of revenue under s. 73.09 as qualified to perform the functions of the office of assessor. If a person who has not been so certified is appointed to the office, the office shall be vacant and the appointing authority shall fill the vacancy from a list of persons so certified by the department of revenue.

(5) This section shall not apply to a city of the 1st class after it has come under a county assessor system.

History: 1973 c. 90; 1975 c. 39, 199; 1977 c. 203; 1979 c. 95 ss. 1, 4; 1979 c. 110, 221, 355; 1981 c. 37; 1983 a. 192; 1985 a. 29, 332; 1987 a. 87; 1991 a. 156; 2001 a. 103.