COURTLAND—A reassessment of properties in Southampton County is under way.

Counties in Virginia are required to reassess property values at least once every six years. The last reassessment went into effect in Southampton County on Jan. 1, 2006. The new reassessment will be effective for 2012.

Law requires that all property be assessed at fair market value. Fair market value is the amount of money a typical, well-informed buyer would be willing to pay for a property.

The work is being overseen by a locally-appointed Board of Assessors with field work conducted by a professional appraisal firm, Wingate and Associates. All vehicles utilized by Wingate and Associates are marked and all reassessment employees carry a Southampton County photo identification card.

They are required to visit every property in the county and field verify the measurements of 20 percent of all homes.

Field work is expected to be completed by late September or early October, after which notices of reassessment will be mailed to property owners.

Taxpayers have a right to appeal property tax assessments to the local Board of Assessors and then to a court-appointed Board of Equalization. Details of how to appeal will be printed on the notice of reassessment.

For more questions regarding the reassessment, Wingate and Associates may be contacted at 653-2522. Representatives are available to meet with civic groups or other organizations to discuss the reassessment process.