Overview
The Clerk-Treasurer’s office is the legal custodian of official city records and acts as liaison between the public, city departments, and the Common Council. This office is responsible for administrating elections and maintaining the Statewide Voter Registration System. Additional responsibilities of the Clerk-Treasurer’s office include:
- Issuing licenses including alcohol, bartender, cigarette, direct seller, dog, and others
- Billing of special assessments
- Publishing all legal notices and public meeting notices
- The Board of Review
- Real & Personal Property Tax Collections
- All general revenues and receipting
- Accounts Payable
- Payroll Processing
- Oakwood Cemetery Administration
Contact Information
108 N. Capron St.
PO Box 272
Berlin, WI 54923
Phone: 920-361-5400
Debra Thiel
Deputy Clerk – Treasurer
dthiel@cityofberlin.wi.gov
Caitlin Hilgart
Deputy Clerk – Treasurer
chilgart@cityofberlin.wi.gov
Administration
Berlin City Hall is located downtown, on the square.
History: Prior to 1928 city hall was located in various downtown buildings on their second floor offices including above the First National Bank in 1904.
In 1928 it was deemed appropriate to build a municipal building on the spot where the then current firehouse stood on Market Square . The current City Hall building was built and dedicated with much fanfare, including a song written about it in 1929. The original building had a tower on the south end but due to an engineering mistake it was deemed unsafe and removed in 1942. It housed city offices, the police department and the fire department. In 1982/83 the fire department moved to its own building and the remaining space was remodeled into more space for the remaining departments. The auditorium on the second floor was remodeled to hold the new Council Chambers. The building has received subsequent upgrades since then. It currently houses the police department, city offices and various department offices.
City Hall is located at 108 North Capron Street
(proper mailing address is 108 N. Capron St., P.O. Box 272 , Berlin, WI 54923)
920-361-5400 phone
920-361-5454 fax
City Hall hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday.
Closed on Holidays.
Budget
2024:
- 2024 General Fund Revenue Budget
- 2024 General Fund Expenditure Budget
- 2024 Capital Project Fund Budget
2023:
- 2023 General Fund Revenue Budget
- 2023 General Fund Expenditure Budget
- 2023 Capital Funds Revenue and Expenditure Budget
2022
- 2022 General Fund Revenue Budget
- 2022 General Fund Expenditure Budget
- 2022 Capital Fund Budget
- 2022 Budget Presentation
2021
2020
2019
MISCELLANEOUS
Elections
Voting Location
ELECTION VOTING LOCATION
BERLIN NATIONAL ARMORY
147 Memorial Dr
Berlin, WI 54923
Register to Vote
Clerk’s Office City Hall
Monday – Friday: 7:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
108 N. Capron Street
920-361-5400
You must reside at your current residence in the City of Berlin for at least 28 consecutive days immediately preceding the next election to vote. It is necessary to bring identification with your current City of Berlin address such as Wisconsin Driver’s License, Wisconsin ID, Bank or Credit Card Statement, Utility Bill, Paycheck, Student ID, Government issued Document, Lease Agreement, Employee ID, Residential Care intake document, Real Estate Property Tax Bill or Receipt.
Absentee Voting
Voters are allowed to cast their ballots prior to Election Day, either by mail or in the City Clerk’s office at 108 N. Capron Street. You must provide an acceptable photo ID in order to vote.
Become a Polling Place Election Workers!
The City of Berlin is always looking for individuals who would be interested in being a Polling Place Election Inspector.
Wisconsin law permits high school students to work at the Polls on Election Day. If you are interested in knowing more about becoming an election worker, please call the City Clerk’s office at 920-361-5400.
Municipal Ordinances
Taxes
Attention City of Berlin Tax Payers Important dates and information
Please Read Carefully: Office Hours at City Hall
Regular Hours: Monday thru Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Holiday Schedule: Closed on December 25, 26 and January 1
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Questions on your tax bill?
Contact Information for all Taxing Entities:
| Green Lake County
County Administrator 571 County Road A Green Lake, WI 54941 920-294-4147 |
Berlin Area School District
School Superintendent 295 E. Marquette Street Berlin, WI 54923 920-361-2004 |
Moraine Park Technical College
Director of Finance 235 N National Avenue Fond du Lac, WI 54936 920-924-3236 |
| Waushara County
County Treasurer 209 S. Ste Marie St Wautoma, WI 54982 920-787-0445 |
City of Berlin
City Treasurer 108 N. Capron Street Berlin, WI 54923 920-361-5400 |
Tax Assistance is Available:
Berlin is a signed vendor with the Wisconsin Department of Administration Program – Help for Homeowners that can provide Tax Assistance. Please visit their website for more information and applications.
Where do my tax dollars go?
The City of Berlin’s elected officials and City staff are often asked how the City receives money and where the money is spent. We have put together the following page for a brief explanation of how operating funds are spent. We hope this explanation will help. Please know staff are always available to answer any additional questions you may have. You can also visit the city website at www.cityofberlin.net for more information.
Residents who own property in the City pay property taxes. The property tax bill adds together the tax levies of four different taxing jurisdictions. These taxing jurisdictions are the City of Berlin, the Berlin Area School District, Moraine Park Technical College, and either Green Lake or Waushara County (depending on which County you live in). Instead of requiring you to pay separate bills to each governmental unit, the levies from all four are combined into one bill for your convenience. After you pay your property tax bill, the money is divided and each taxing jurisdiction receives its share. Based on a home assessed value of $100,000, the distribution of property taxes by jurisdiction can be found below (amounts taken from 2022 tax bill):
- Berlin Area School District $1,181.65 96%
- Green Lake County / Waushara County $914.30 14%
- City of Berlin $864.85 51%
- Moraine Park Technical College $72.48 39%
TOTAL TAX BILL: $3,033.28
Your City of Berlin Tax Dollars (28.51% – $864.85) – Where does your money go?
| CITY SERVICES RECEIVED | Taxes | Monthly |
| General Government – This includes costs for the City Council, Mayor, Boards, Committees, Commissions, City Attorney, Sealer of Weights & Measures, and Auditors. | $ 35.55 | $ 2.96 |
| Clerk-Treasurer Department – Finances, Elections, Licenses & Permits, Taxes, Special Assessments, and Record Management. | $ 54.05 | $ 4.50 |
| Police Department – The City is protected by twelve Full-Time officers who keep Berlin safe 24/7. | $ 209.81 | $ 17.48 |
| Fire Department – The City has 20+ volunteer Firefighters who respond to an average of 120 calls per year. | $ 37.71 | $ 3.14 |
| Shared Taxi Ride Service – available 7 days a week, for transportation up to 5 miles from City limits. | $ 41.60 | $ 3.47 |
| Garbage & Recycling – pickup is offered once a week for both services. | $ 54.66 | $ 4.56 |
| Public Works – Includes street maintenance programs such as street resurfacing, painting, patching, crack sealing, as well as snow plowing, parks maintenance, street lights, sidewalk repair and maintenance, yard waste pickups, weekly yard waste pickups for seniors and handicapped residents, maintenance of all city owned public buildings, traffic control on city streets, and storm sewers maintenance. | $ 155.15 | $ 12.93 |
| Senior Center – Maintains the Senior Center, provides activities, a nutrition program and senior transportation program. | $ 22.75 | $ 1.90 |
| Oakwood Cemetery – Maintenance for the City owned Cemetery | $ 13.41 | $ 1.12 |
| Library – Berlin Public Library is open six days a week, providing access to thousands of books, audiovisual materials, magazines, newspapers, computers, research assistance and programming for youth and adults. | $ 59.42 | $ 4.95 |
| Parks, Playgrounds & Recreation – Parks Department maintains ten beautiful parks and conservation areas with over 250 acres, offering walking trails, boat landings, basketball, horseshoe pitches, volleyball courts, a disc golf course, baseball fields and more. | $ 32.60 | $ 2.72 |
| Aquatic Center – zero-entry pool that has a concession stand, diving board, slides and playing areas. | $ 25.95 | $ 2.16 |
| Economic Development – Building Inspection/Code Enforcement, Assessments, as well as supporting local businesses for retention and expansion and programs to help redevelop the downtown. | $ 26.64 | $ 2.22 |
| Other Miscellaneous – Fireworks, Meeting Recordings, Historical Society Museum Support, Employee Retirement Payments | $ 6.57 | $ 0.55 |
| Debt Service | $ 88.98 | $ 7.42 |
| Total City Tax Bill: * Based on home assessment value of $100,000 * | $ 864.85 | $72.07 |
| ** Water & Sewer Services are billed monthly separate from taxes |