ROTTERDAM Cold War vets may get break on taxes BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter
Town veterans of military service during the Cold War could soon get a bit of relief from their property taxes. Town officials are considering a local law to grant veterans an exemption from paying taxes on 10 percent or 15 percent of their property value, provided they served between Sept. 2, 1945 and Dec. 26, 1991. The value to a taxpayer could be $8,000 to $12,000, depending on details of application. These exemptions can both be increased to $40,000 if the veteran disabled. Assessor Craig Surprise is expected to pitch the law to members of the Town Board during their meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Town Hall. Supervisor Steve Tommasone said “It’s a show of appreciation for their service.” He said “It’s evidence to the veterans around that when they do come to Rotterdam, we recognize them more than some other communities do.” Though many other Capital Region communities are considering such a law, only a handful have actually enacted it. Stillwater and Clifton Park in Saratoga County offer the exemption, as does North Greenbush in Rensselaer County. The law wouldn’t go into effect until 2009. It would not add on to existing veteran tax breaks, but could create a larger eligible group. Surprise said a handful of servicemen did inquire whether Rotterdam had adopted the new law. “I’ve probably had about 10 people ask this year,” he said. Tommasone said the number of veterans seeking the exemption would likely increase as more learn of the law. “Once they know it’s available, we’ll end up with more people who qualify,” he said.
My sister's husband was in the service, he's in his early 50's and he already gets a vet exemption on his house. This is nothing new. There is combat which is 25% and non-combat which I think is 15%.
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
What larger group? And they are talking about some kind of 'new local law'. Isn't there on already one on the books since people are already receiving this deduction?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Don't really know how the eligibility will increase the number of those affected. The new provisions affect those who "served between Sept. 2, 1945 and Dec. 26, 1991". Does that include many who served more recently? The article suggests that the new local law that is being proposed will not increase the amount for those who already receive a veteran's exemption.
Perhaps it is the dates that they are trying to make a local law. You may be right brad, when you said that it may include more recent vets. That's all that I can think of. I wish they made it a bit clearer, cause there are some confused folks out there right now.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
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