AUBURN – Property owners with questions about their tax bills and changes due this month can question the city assessor directly at an Oct. 12 public library discussion.

The city should begin mailing new property values to taxpayers then, said Assessor Cheryl Dubois. She expects to field questions about property values and the process.

“It’s an informational meeting for people that have any questions, about the process, the purpose or how it’s accomplished,” Dubois said. The discussion is scheduled at 10 a.m. and again at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 12 at the Auburn Public Library.

The city began re-evaluating property in May 2002. Originally, city staff and councilors had planned to use the new values as a part of the 2005-2006 budget. They changed their mind during budget discussions, choosing to delay the revaluation for a year.

Changes should increase the city’s total value by $703 million. Taxpayers will begin getting tax bills based on those values in August 2006.

“The more information we can get out and the more opportunities we can give people to ask questions, I think the better off we’ll all be,” Dubois said.