CHIPPEWA FALLS — Walmart has again sued the village of Lake Hallie, claiming the village is over-taxing the business.
Walmart Real Estate Business Trust filed the lawsuit in Chippewa County Court.
In the lawsuit, Walmart claims the value of its property at 2786 Commercial Boulevard is valued at $9.25 million. However, the village assessed the value at $12.133 million.
Walmart already filed an objection to the 2024 assessment with the village’s board of review. That board granted a waiver of review hearing.
“The 2024 assessment of the property was excessive,” the lawsuit reads. “As a result, the tax imposed on the property for 2024 was excessive. Walmart is entitled to a refund of 2024 taxes paid as may be determined to be due to Walmart, plus statutory interest.”
The lawsuit doesn’t specify the amount of money Walmart is claiming they should be reimbursed if the property’s value is reduced by about $2.9 million.
The lawsuit claims the 2024 assessment “was not uniform with the assessment of other properties” in the village and state.
“An actual and justiciable controversy exists as to Walmart’s right to a reduction in the 2024 value of the property as set forth in (state statute),” the lawsuit reads. “If the court rules that a hearing is mandated, Walmart seeks an order scheduling an evidentiary hearing from which this court may make an administrative determination of the value of the property.”
Walmart filed a nearly identical lawsuit against the village in July 2023. That lawsuit also states the village assessed the property at $12.133 million, but Walmart claimed the value of the property in January 2023 was $7.61 million. That lawsuit has not yet been settled; a pre-trial conference is set for September. The village filed similar lawsuits in 2021 and 2022 as well.
Milwaukee-based Mallery S.C. law firm is representing Walmart.
Walmart is based in Bentonville, Arkansas.