Residents who are age 65 and/or who are disabled may be eligible for a partial exemption on their school property taxes if they meet certain qualifications.
At the regular meeting on January 22, 2020, the Board of Education reviewed the maximum income eligibility ranges for exemptions that have been approved by New York State. Exemptions ranging from 5% to 50% of qualified applicants assessments are available on income levels of $37,400 or less.
Also available to District residents is a tax exemption for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers, approved by the Board of Education on January 22, 2020. To qualify for this exemption, applicants must reside in the District served by the fire department or ambulance service, the property must be the primary residence of the member, and only the residential portion of the property may receive the exemption. The exemption is equal to 10% of the property’s assessed value, not to exceed a $3,000 assessment reduction.
Finally, on January 22, 2020, the Board of Education approved the continuation of the tax exemption for Veterans. The maximum exemption allowable for the three levels of the basic Alternative Veterans’ Exemption in subdivision 2 paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of Section 458-a will be, respectively:
- Six thousand (6,000) dollars, or that amount multiplied by the latest state equalization rate for the assessing unit, or in the case of a special assessing unit, the latest class ratio, whichever is less;
- Four thousand (4,000) dollars, or that amount multiplied by the latest state equalization rate for the assessing unit, or in the case of a special assessing unit, the latest class ratio, whichever is less; and
- Twenty thousand (20,000) dollars, or that amount multiplied by the latest state equalization rate for the assessing unit, or in the case of a special assessing unit, the latest class ratio, whichever is less.
Applications for all property tax exemptions may be obtained from each town assessor, and must have been submitted no later than March 1 of each year. We recommend that you confirm that all of your exemptions are in place every year by contacting your local assessor’s office, especially if you have recently moved or receive the Enhanced STAR exemption.
More information regarding these exemptions can be found at the NYS Office of Real Property Taxes web site at https://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/property/default.htm.