DIXFIELD – Nearly 1,600 property owners will receive letters in their mailboxes next week telling them what their new property taxes are expected to be.

Town Manager Tom Richmond said the assessing firm that recently completed a re-valuation of the town met with selectmen Tuesday night to review the assessment process and to set up a schedule to meet with property owners who may dispute their new tax bill.

The meetings will also serve to explain the process, procedures and criteria used for evaluating property, which was done by John O’Donnell Associates of New Gloucester. Those wishing to meet with an assessor from the firm must make an appointment by calling 926-4044.

Representatives from the firm will be at Ludden Memorial Library from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 5, 7 and 10; and from 1 to 7 p.m. May 12.

Richmond said generally whenever a revaluation occurs, about a third of the property owners see their taxes rise, a third get a reduction, and a third stay the same.

Also, he said property values usually rise about 160 percent when a revaluation hasn’t been conducted for many years. In Dixfield’s case, because of the low amount of growth, he expects the town’s property values will rise about 130 percent.

Dixfield last had a revaluation completed in the early 1990s. Richmond said property values have likely dropped below 70 percent.

Residents currently pay $29.75 per $1,000 of property valuation. That figure will drop significantly once properties are brought up to 100 percent value.

Richmond said the tax commitment will be made in July. Residents then pay half their taxes by Sept. 15, 2008, and the other half by April 15, 2009.

The town tucked away money for several budget years to pay for the revaluation just completed. It cost $140,000.

“We’re trying to make values as equal as possible,” he said.