The Brookings County Equalization Office will mail 2010 assessment notices before March 1, 2010, to all Brooking County property owners, it was announced this week by Joyce Dragseth, director of equalization.

This year, the assessment notices will be printed on yellow , 8 1/2-by-11-inch sheets, and they will be mailed in a window envelope from the Equalization Office, Dragseth said.

The director noted that the values on the 2010 assessment notices "are representative of our estimate of full and true market value on all properties ."

Those who own more than one parcel of land may have several parcels listed on a single sheet. Check your notice

To compare the 2010 assessment to last year's value, Dragseth explains, "compare the new yellow notice to the white 2009 notice received last March from our office. We also ask that you review the new notice for any errors in spelling, address, legal description or classification."

Homeowners are also asked to note that if they owned and occupied their residence on Nov. 1, 2009, and this is the only residence that they currently reside in, the property should be classified as owneroccupied . That classification is on the left hand side of the notice, under property type. An owner-occupied classification entitles property owners to a reduction in property taxes. Property owners who qualify homes are not classified as owneroccupied have until March 15, 2010, to get the status changed. Make application at the Equaliza-tion Office in Brookings, at 601 Fourth St, Suite 102.

Because county equalization offices are charged by South Dakota law to value all proper ty at full and true market value, all property statistics reviewed each year, with adjustments made to any erties falling below state guide lines. Values for ag land change

Ag land will see changes 2010, as South Dakota is now valuing all ag land by a productivity method, Dragseth said. The South Dakota Department of Revenue and Regulation has provided each county with a top-dollar crop value and a top-dollar grass value, based on information collected by SDSU. "These top dollars are then applied to each soil type, soil rating and number of acres on each parcel of land, with the value then being determined by the indicated highest and best use of the soil types," Dragseth explained. Public meeting at Swiftel

An open public meeting on the new valuation system will be held in the county rooms at the Swiftel Center on March 4. The session begins at 3 p.m.

For the 2010 assessment year, all building permits, new construction, and the findings of the Equalization Office's rural review started in 2009 have been calculated and added to the corresponding property values.

Valuation increases were necessary in other areas of the county, also. White and Volga will see slight increases in land values this year. Some lake areas will see increases in land and structure values. Smaller development areas around Brookings will see value increases.

Farmhouses and ag buildings were reassessed, as were all small acreages in the county.

Several neighborhoods in Brookings will also be increased due to market changes.

Dragseth reiterated that all values determined are her office's estimate of full and true market value, and all analysis is done using 2009 real estate open market sales. "Brookings County is fortunate that the downturn in the economy has not affected the property values during the 2009 sale year," she said.

"We believe that the public remains aware of the increases in property value that we have been experiencing in past years. If and when downtimes in real estate values begin to affect the markets in Brookings County, our office will be studying those statistic also and react to those changes if indicated in the future."

She continued: "Please try to realize that all of the 2010 assessment increases are warranted by our statistical studies, and all valuation changes were processed according to South Dakota Codified Law.

"After receiving the new assessment notices, all property owners need to ask themselves if their assessed value of their property fairly and equally represents full and true market value. If property owners feel their property is assessed higher than full and true market value, the appeal process is clearly outlined on the back of the assessment notice.

Property owners who have questions or concerns after receiving their assessment notices may speak with Dragseth and her staff at the Brookings County Equalization Office or call 696-8220 for information .