Glossary
Assessed Valuation
The property valuation determined by the municipal (city, town, or county) assessor as of January 1 in any given year. It is important that property of equal value be assessed at equal amounts but it is not necessary that the amounts reflect the true sale value of the property.
Equalized Valuation
The assessed valuation multiplied by an adjustment factor computed by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue for each type of property in each taxing district, designed to cause each type of property to have comparable value regardless of local assessment practices. The objective is to have equalized valuation reflect the fair market value of each piece of property (fair market value is the value that would be agreed upon between a willing buyer and a willing seller in a transaction where neither is required to act).
Assessment Ratio
The ratio of assessed property value to equalized property value. Assessed property values are not comparable due to differences in local assessment practices.
Consolidation
Two or more school districts become one school district.
Dissolution
A school district ceases to exist.
Elector (s. 115.01(13), Wis. Stats.)
Individuals who voted for governor at the last general election in that area. Any U.S. citizen, age 18 or older, who has lived in the district or ward for 10 days before any election is considered a qualified elector who may vote for governor.
Enrollment
Number of pupils enrolled on the most recent third Friday in September or second Friday in January.
Large Territory
A territory is defined as large if either:
- The assessed value of the territory proposed to be detached from one school district and attached to an adjoining school district, divided by its assessment ratio, is equal to or greater than seven percent of the equalized value of the school district for the detaching district; or
- seven percent or more of the enrollment of the school district from which the territory is proposed to be detached are residing in the territory proposed to be detached from the school district (use the most recent third Friday in September or second Friday in January count).
Reorganization (s. 117.03(5), Wis. Stats.)
The consolidation of two or more school districts, dissolution of a school district, detachment of territory from one school district and its attachment to an adjoining school district, or the creation of a school district.
Resolution
A motion made by a school board indicating some form of order of business.
School District Boundary Appeal Board
Twelve school board members appointed by the State Superintendent to hear appeals related to various types of school district reorganization. Four members each serve from large, medium and small school districts.
School District Boundary Appeal Panel (SDBAB)
Three SDBAB members (one from a large school district, one from a medium-sized school district, and one from a small school district) who are appointed to hear appeals related to small territory detachment petitions denied by a school board.
Small Territory (s. 117.12(1)(b), Wis. Stats.)
A territory is defined as small if both:
- The assessed value of the territory proposed to be transferred, divided by its assessment ratio, is less than seven percent of the equalized valuation of the school district from which it is proposed to be detached; and
- less than seven percent of the enrollment of the school district from which the territory is proposed to be detached resides in the territory proposed to be transferred (use the most recent third Friday in September or second Friday in January count).