WisDOT MAPSS - Accountability - Surplus Property Management - The continuous effort to use public dollars in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
Surplus Property Management - The continuous effort to use public dollars in the most efficient and cost-effective way.The department purchases property for transportation improvement projects. Upon project completion, land that is no longer needed is sold to local communities and private developers. Our goal is to generate $2.75 million in revenue from surplus land sales toward the Transportation Fund.
Surplus lands sales are important because they return unused property to the tax rolls. Once the project design and construction are complete, land that is no longer needed can be made available for private development. The revenue generated by surplus land sales is deposited into the Transportation Fund to be available for other transportation improvements. Sales of surplus lands support local economic development since the parcels often have good roadway access and visibility. When land is returned to the tax rolls, local governments benefit because they can generate new property tax revenue.
Availability of surplus lands and interest from potential buyers are the most significant factors. Over the previous 15 fiscal years (2011– 2025) the department sold 1,357 parcels, returning the parcels back to the local tax rolls. The sales have generated more than $66 million in parcel revenue. In the past 15 years, WisDOT also generated $14 million in lease income from WisDOT-owned properties and parcels held for future transportation projects.
At the beginning of the state fiscal year the department owned 798 surplus land parcels. Seventy-nine (9.90%) are available land with independent access from the roadways and are considered general marketable properties for the public. The department classifies 466 parcels (58.39%) as having limited marketability, as they lack access and can only be sold to one of two or more abutting property owners. Also, 252 parcels (31.58%) are considered non-marketable with no access and can only be sold to the single abutting property owner.
Wis Stats. 84.09(5)(b) requires parcels identified as surplus after May 25, 2006 to be offered for sale at appraised value within 24 months of project completion if said property is no longer necessary for transportation purposes. To improve compliance, the department is implementing a new connection between the real estate tracking system and program management finance system to better identify project completion dates for surplus parcels. As part of this effort, the department is adding additional resources to expedite appraisals on parcels that are behind schedule. Together, these improvements ensure accurate recordkeeping and help return surplus parcels to the local tax roll in accordance with statutory requirements.