In a recent meeting of the City of Waukesha Board of Review, property owner Dale Moss presented a case regarding the assessed value of his office buildings located on Grandview Boulevard. Moss argued that the current assessment of $800,500 for one property and $690,900 for another was excessively high given the current state of the office market, which he described as struggling due to high vacancy rates and changing work habits post-COVID.

Moss detailed his challenges in leasing the properties, citing a vacancy rate of 49% for one building and 45% for the other. He emphasized that the office market has not recovered from the pandemic, with many businesses opting for remote work, leading to decreased demand for office space. He provided evidence of his financial struggles, including rising operating costs and increased insurance premiums, which he claimed further justified a lower assessment.

The assessor, Lori, countered Moss's claims by presenting data on comparable sales in the area, which indicated that the assessed values were in line with market trends. She noted that the properties Moss owned were classified as Class C office spaces, which typically command lower rental rates compared to Class A properties. Lori argued that the current assessments were reasonable based on the evidence presented and the methodologies used in determining property values.

After deliberation, the Board of Review upheld the assessor's valuations, stating that Moss did not provide sufficient evidence to challenge the presumption of correctness granted to the assessor's evaluations. The board concluded that the assessments reflected fair market value, considering the lack of recent sales data from Moss to support a lower valuation.

Moss expressed disappointment but acknowledged the board's decision, indicating he would consider appealing the ruling to the circuit court. The meeting highlighted ongoing concerns about the local office market and the challenges faced by property owners in adapting to changing economic conditions.