WAUKESHA, WI (WHBL) - Just over a year after its initial ruling, the state’s Second Appeals Court ruled Wednesday against an appeal by the Village of Kohler over a tax dispute with the Kohler Company.
The unanimous decision by the three appellate judges is in regards to over 600-thousand dollars in 2012 property taxes the Kohler Company claims it overpaid due to the over-assessed value of their properties. Judge Timothy Van Akkeren ruled back in February of 2015 in favor of the company, prompting the village to appeal.
The village claims the method of assessing value should include the management of the property, rather than just the value of the land itself. The company claims their reputation should not be included in the assessed value, since that would increase the land’s value.
In their ruling, the appeals court affirmed Judge Van Akkeren’s ruling, saying he followed proper state law in determining the land’s value.
Also, the court said Van Akkeren was right in keeping a village expert witness from testifying on specific information when the original trial was held back in November of 2014 because it came about after a deadline for when evidence for the trial could be submitted.
There are other court cases being considered for taxes paid by the Kohler Company from the years 2011, 2013 and 2014.