Reducing the tax burden on veterans

The Hewlett-Woodmere Board of Education was expected to vote this week on whether to approve a veterans’ alternative tax exemption — allowing veterans to pay less in school property taxes — after more than 50 military veterans attended the board’s Sept. 10 meeting and pushed for a decision on the issue.
Four resolutions needed to be approved for the exemption to be granted, district officials said. “The Board of Education takes its responsibility to the entire community very seriously, and it was important to us to hear from members of the community before taking action on the veterans’ exemption legislation,” said Scott McInnes, the school board president. “We had that opportunity, and we’re very happy to have had such a well-attended meeting where district residents could express their feelings and desires. We look forward to being able to take official action on this important legislation.”
The partial exemption is based on New York’s real property tax law, and includes a basic maximum tax exemption of $12,000 for all wartime veterans, an additional $8,000 for those who served in a combat zone, and an additional $40,000 for veterans who served in a combat zone and suffered a “service-connected” disability.
Gold Star families — direct relatives of servicemen and women who were killed in combat — who own homes in the district would also be considered eligible, as well as veterans living in co-ops and those who transfer their home ownership to another property in the district.
All other district property taxpayers would have to pay more to make up for the amount that veterans would be exempt from paying, Hewlett-Woodmere officials said.

Joe Margolin, a Valley Stream resident who lives in the school district, said he was grateful to the veterans for serving the country, and wanted to help them in any way he could. “I’m not a veteran,” he said. “I am a homeowner. I’m a taxpayer. I’m more than willing to pick up the tab.”
Joshua Friedrich, a Hewlett resident who served two tours of duty in Iraq and two in Afghanistan, said he wanted his three children to attend Hewlett-Woodmere schools because of their great reputation. “You want young veterans moving into this district,” he said. “We moved here because of how great the schools are. I think that it’s not asking a lot to get just a little back.”

Have an opinion about the veteran’s partial tax exemption? Send your letter to the editor to jbessen@liherald.com.