Legislator fighting for veterans tax exemption

Nassau County Legislator David Denenberg is pushing for a 15 percent property-tax exemption for all veterans who served during the Cold War Era -- the period between the end of World War II and Nov. 9, 1989, when the Berlin Wall fell.

The exemption, if passed by the county Legislature in June, would cover veterans whether they served in combat or not.

The state Legislature passed a measure in 2008 allowing for the Cold War exemption, but it was set at 10 percent. Additionally, the state enacted a cap on the exemption amount allowed under the law. For Nassau veterans, Denenberg said, that meant a maximum property-tax benefit of $75. Under the new exemption plan, the maximum benefit would be $375.

For veterans who served in combat, the property-tax exemption is 25 percent.

The state Legislature passed revised legislation allowing for the 15 percent Cold War exemption in March. Now the county must adopt the new exemption for it to take effect here. Denenberg, who championed the first Cold War exemption in 2008, submitted enabling legislation on March 26 to the county Legislature, which is set to consider the bill on June 14.

Denenberg, a Democrat who represents Merrick-Bellmore, held a news conference at the Nassau County Veterans Memorial at Eisenhower Park on Friday. Joining him were Frank Colon, commander of the North Bellmore American Legion; Vincent Montera, commander of the Bellmore Veterans of Foreign Wars; and Tom Riordan, past commander of the Merrick American Legion and the Nassau County American Legion.

Colon said the exemption would provide much-needed relief for a number of veterans who helped to protect U.S. interests during tense times on the international stage. "They were standing 24-7 on a guard post on the Berlin Wall...keeping their eyes on Russian subs," he said.

Montera said Cold War veterans should be acknowledged for their service to the country. "When you go into the military, you're volunteering to defend the Constitution against all enemies. Because [Cold War veterans] weren't called [to combat], they shouldn't be penalized," he said.

During the Cold War, Riordan said, "You had our troops on a moment's notice to help defend our principles."