New property assessments will be mailed to all Town of Sweden property owners on February 9. The town is in the midst of its first reassessment since 1970. Instead of the fractional market value at which Sweden properties are currently assessed, all properties will be assessed at 100 percent of market value.

The February disclosure notices will tell property owners what their previous assessment was and what the new tentative assessment is. Those who feel their new assessment is incorrect will be able to schedule an informal, 15-minute review with Cole-Layer-Trumble, the firm hired by Sweden to conduct the reassessment. During the review, property owners will be shown the "comparables," the recently sold properties on which their properties’ assessment is based.

On May 1 the tentative roll, with any adjustments made during the informal hearing process, will be filed. Assessor Alan Bader has said that all property owners should examine the tentative roll. Owners who still feel their assessments are wrong can file a grievance with the Board of Assessment Review. That board will meet on May 22. Any unresolved assessment challenges can be taken to small claims court by property owners.

The first property tax that will use the new assessments will be the September 2001 school tax.

Cole-Layer-Trumble has offices located in the basement of the Sweden Town Hall, 18 State Street for the duration of the reassessment process. The firm can be reached at 637-1000.