Yorktown property owners who are eligible veterans or surviving spouses of first responders killed in the line of duty could qualify for new property tax exemptions.
The exemptions would be provided at the maximum amounts permitted under New York state law and would apply to several groups, including active-duty members of the armed forces who served in combat zones, permanently and totally disabled veterans and surviving spouses of first responders killed in the line of duty.
The proposed exemptions include a partial exemption of up to 25 percent of a property's assessed value, capped at $20,000, for qualified active-duty members of the armed forces who served in a combat zone.
Surviving spouses of police officers killed in the line of duty would be eligible for a 50 percent property tax exemption.
The proposal also includes a 100 percent real property tax exemption for the primary residences of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled as a result of their military service. The exemption would include special district charges, assessments and special ad valorem levies.
Surviving spouses of qualifying volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers killed in the line of duty would be eligible for a partial tax exemption of up to 50 percent.
Supervisor Ed Lachterman said the exemptions are available to municipalities across New York and that Yorktown is largely following state guidelines.
“I think that we owe that to our first responders and our veterans, and it's the least we could do, especially for those that are killed,” Lachterman told Yorktown News.
The board scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, Oct. 20. Lachterman said the Town Board will likely revisit the exemptions in November, with a vote expected after the public hearing.
If approved, the exemptions would take effect with next year’s tax roll, Lachterman said.
He also noted that exemptions can shift some of the tax burden to other property owners, making public input important.
“While it is a time that the town is looking to save money, these are some exemptions that I think speak to the service and the dedication and loss, or the extreme danger that people are in when they are there,” Lachterman said at Tuesday’s work session. “These are the people that are supporting our community in ways that most people do not.”
A day after the Yorktown Town Board discussed the exemptions and scheduled its Oct. 20 public hearing, Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins signed four local laws expanding property tax exemptions for eligible veterans, active-duty military members serving in combat zones and surviving spouses of first responders who died in the line of duty.
The county legislation provides a 100 percent property tax exemption for qualifying veterans who are permanently disabled because of their military service, a 25 percent exemption for active-duty military members serving in combat zones and 50 percent exemptions for surviving spouses of police officers, volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance service members killed in the line of duty — the same exemptions Yorktown is considering.
The exemptions apply to assessment rolls with taxable status dates on or after Oct. 1, county officials said. Eligible property owners must apply through their local assessor and meet applicable eligibility requirements. The legislation was unanimously approved by the Westchester County Board of Legislators.
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