Milwaukee taxpayers can avoid parking headaches and long lines

The City Treasurer’s Office contract with US Bank again allows property tax payments at 13 US Bank branch locations across Milwaukee – an arrangement that enables the city to reduce staffing costs while increasing convenience for city taxpayers.

The recommendation of implementing the “pay at the bank” program was included in Alderman Jim Bohl’s “City of Milwaukee Office of the City Treasurer: A Policy Plan for Reform” white paper released in the fall of 2011. City Treasurer Spencer Coggs put the program in place last year, his first year in office.

“I commend City Treasurer Spencer Coggs for implementing the ‘pay at the bank’ recommendation, which I believe just makes good customer service sense for our taxpayers, and also enables the city to reduce some personnel costs,” Alderman Bohl said.

Treasurer Coggs said the “pay at the bank” option will also likely be more attractive as crews get ready to begin repairs to the exterior of City Hall. “The parking that is available on the streets adjacent to City Hall will be reduced, making it more difficult for many residents to get to the Treasurer’s Office,” he said.

“I believe the parking situation – combined with possible long lines at City Hall – will prompt many taxpayers to choose the ‘pay at the bank’ option,” Treasurer Coggs said.

The program eliminates the time and inconvenience of having residents drive all the way downtown to pay their bill at City Hall. Instead, residents can pay their city property tax bill at one of the 13 US Bank locations within the city. One does not need to be a customer of US Bank to participate in this program.

Taxpayers can make their tax payments at a US Bank branch either by cash or check. Taxpayers will need to bring their entire tax bill with them to the bank, including the scanable return remittance coupon attached at the bottom of the bill, when making their tax payment at a US Bank branch. All tax payment checks should be made payable to the City of Milwaukee. US Bank tellers will stamp a payment acknowledgement on the top part of the tax bills when a tax payment is made. The City Treasurer’s Office will mail out official tax payment receipts for all bank branch payments within five working days of payment processing.

In the 5th District, there are US Bank branch locations at 7901 W. Burleigh St., and at 9921 W. Capitol Dr. Please note that the bank branches will not issue tax refunds, nor will they accept payments on prior year delinquent tax accounts. If a taxpayer’s property tax escrow check exceeds the amount due and a payment is made at a US Bank branch, a refund will be mailed out by the City Treasurer’s Office with an official tax receipt within ten calendar days of payment processing.

“Pay at the bank” programs are popular in many communities across the U.S. In Milwaukee the program enables the Treasurer’s Office to reduce the number of temporary staff hired in December and January to handle the large number of taxpayers who typically come to City Hall during those months to pay their property tax bills.

According to the Treasurer’s Office, the following US Bank branches will accept City of Milwaukee property tax payments on 2013 tax levy accounts:

1. 7901 W. Burleigh Street, Milwaukee, WI 53222
2. 9921 W. Capitol Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53222
3. 777 E. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202
4. 2303 N. Farwell Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53211
5. 7500 W. Good Hope Road, Milwaukee, WI 53223
6. 4015 S. Howell Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53207
7. 5526 W. Capitol Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53216
8. 939 W. Historic Mitchell Street, Milwaukee, WI 53204
9. 5220 W. North Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53208
10. 7325 W. Oklahoma Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53219
11. 650 N. Plankinton Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53259
12. 3720 W. Villard Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53209
13. 2537 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53233

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

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