City of Ripon - City Hall 100 Jackson Street Ripon, WI 54971

Clerks Office

ABOUT THE CITY CLERK

Welcome to the City Clerk's Office, where the Clerk oversees crucial administrative functions essential to the city's governance.

Responsibilities include managing election administration, processing a diverse range of licenses (operator, liquor, home business, etc.), administering oaths, fulfilling open records requests, managing special assessment letters, collecting property taxes, and overseeing accounts payable.

Committed to excellence, the City Clerk upholds duties prescribed by Wisconsin Statutes, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory standards. This role plays a central part in maintaining the smooth operation of local government, fostering transparency, and serving the community with integrity and efficiency.

Elections & Voting

Upcoming Election Schedules

Polling Places Hours: 7:00 am - 8:00 pm

Spring Primary - February 17, 2026
Spring Election - April 7, 2026
Partisan Primary Election - August 11, 2026
General Election - Nov 3, 2026

Find your sample ballot.	Request an absentee ballot be mailed to you.
Check your registration.	Track the status of your absentee.
Find your polling place.	In-person absentee voting (early voting).

Click here for VOTING INFORMATION

Election Types

Spring Primary Election:
Non-partisan primary held on the 3rd Tuesday in February to nominate candidates to be voted for at the Spring Election
Spring Election:
Held the first Tuesday in April for Court of Appeals Judge, Circuit Court Judge, County Nonpartisan Offices, Municipal Offices, School District Offices, and referenda (if necessary), and in Presidential years, to express preference for the person to be the Presidential candidate for each party
Partisan Primary Election:
Primary held the 2nd Tuesday in August to nominate candidates to be voted at the General Election and referenda (if necessary)
General Election:
Election held in even-numbered years on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November to elect the President of the United States (in Presidential years), United States Senator, Representatives in Congress, State Senator, Representatives to the Assembly, District Attorney, Court Partisan Offices and referenda (if necessary)

Interested in running for a seat on the Common Council?

Please call or visit the City Clerk's Office to get the required forms and deadlines, or visit the Wisconsin Election Commission site at: https://elections.wi.gov/candidates/local-candidates

Deadline to Submit Paperwork to the City Clerk: Tuesday, January 6, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.

Licensing & Permits

On our Licensing & Permits Page, you will find various applications and forms related to licenses and permits issued by our office. Whether you are applying for an alcohol beverage license, operator license, or any other permit required within the City of Ripon, this page is your resource for accessing the necessary documents.

For specific inquiries or assistance with any of the applications listed below, please contact the City Clerk's Office at 920-748-4915 or email cityclerk@cityofripon.com.

CLICK HERE to access our Licensing & Permits Page.

Open Records Request

The Open Records Form allows residents and stakeholders to formally request specific documents and records held by the city government. By filling out the form, individuals can navigate the process to obtain crucial information, fostering transparency and accountability within our community.

Online Form: Open Records Form

PDF Form: Open Records Form

City of Ripon - Open Records Request Form

Property Tax, Open Book & Board of Review

Open Book

Date: Wednesday May 28, 2025

Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm

Phone appointments only by contacting Associate Appraisals at 920-749-1995

Board of Review (BOR)

Date: Tuesday June 11, 2025

Time: 3:00pm - 5:00pm

Location: City Hall

The BOR is a quasi-judicial body that operates like court. The BOR’s function is to hear evidence and testimony for any formal objections to assessments and decide whether to uphold or change the assessment. Under state law, the BOR must presume the assessor’s valuation is correct unless the objector provides sufficient evidence to overcome that presumption. If you do not take action at the BOR, this may result in the loss of any further appeal options for your assessment.

To Appeal Your Assessment

First, discuss with your local assessor – questions can often be answered by the assessor during the Open Book process and not require an appeal to Board of Review (BOR).

To file a formal appeal – give notice of your intent to appeal by contacting the BOR clerk at least 48 hours before the BOR begins. Complete and file your appeal form with the BOR clerk no later than the first two hours of the BOR’s first meeting. Make sure you file a completed form or the BOR may not review your appeal.

For more information on the appeal process:

Contact the City Clerk at 920-748-4915 or via email, cityclerk@cityofripon.com.
Review the “guide for Property Owners” (https://www.revenue.wi.gov/Pages/HTML/govpub.aspx). Contact the Wisconsin Department of Revenue for a paper copy of bapdor@wisconsin.gov or 608-266-7750.

Click here to access Associate Appraisals Information

City of Ripon - Open Book Notice 2024

Property Owner Letters

Notice - City Assessor Trespassing Law_2023

Special Assessments

Special assessments are charges levied against property owners to fund specific public improvements or services that benefit those properties directly. These assessments are separate from property taxes and are typically imposed to cover the costs of projects such as street repairs, sidewalk installations, sewer upgrades, or similar enhancements within a defined area.

To request a special assessment letter from the City Clerk’s office, please fill out the City of Ripon - Special Assessment Request Form and email at cityclerk@cityofripon.com.

Questions? Call the Clerk’s office at 920-748-4915.

Costs

$15	Special Assessment Letter
$25	RUSH (same day) Special Assessment Letter