By ANTHONY BOTTAN
According to village Assessor Stephanie Price, veterans who served between Sept. 2, 1945, and Dec. 26, 1991, are eligible to apply for the exemption. They need only to be homeowners in the village, she said, and must present a DD214 - their detailed military record - the deed to their home, military discharge papers and identification. The exemption is for those who did not serve in combat; those who fought in Vietnam are not eligible for the exemption because they already receive one.
Earlier this year, the state Legislature gave municipalities the option of enacting the exemption. "We were falling in line with the local law to give their share of tax exemptions," said Valley Stream Mayor Ed Cahill. "Being a vet myself, this is long overdue."
Veterans need to apply only once, and the application does not need to be renewed, Price explained, but it must be submitted by Dec. 31. The filing period starts on Sept. 1, she said, and the exemption is not retroactive.
American Legion Post 854 Commander George Schuchman said he was pleased to hear that Cold War veterans would receive the exemption, given other rising costs, and that it would help them save a few extra dollars to spend on other things. "I think it's going to be beneficial over a period of time with the high cost of living," Schuchman said. "It will help them with their budgets so that they can afford things - so they can save money and use it in other areas of need."
Schuchman added that since the village board was not obligated to offer Cold War veterans the exemption, it shows how much the board cares about its former soldiers. "I think they realize the vets of Valley Stream are very important," he said. "They see it every Memorial Day. They went out of their way to get it passed, and I think it's great."
Joe Morando, commander of VFW Post 1790 and a Korean War veteran, said that what the village is doing is fantastic, but long overdue. "I'm happy anytime a vet gets any kind of benefit they are entitled to," Morando said. He added, however, that he was skeptical about how much a 10 percent tax exemption would really help veterans. "It will help pay for heavy taxes on homes, but it won't do a lot," he said. "It's ... tough for these vets."
Morando added that any veterans who are having problems with a disability or tax exemptions should contact the VFW.
Though the exemption is a nice gesture for veterans, Morando said, he questioned state lawmakers' motives. "Isn't an election year coming up?" he asked. "I believe that every time an election comes up, they always try to do something to draw attention to get a vote. They are playing politics with people's money."
Assemblyman Bob Barra (R-Lynbrook) said legislators' intentions were good. The legislation was enacted in the 2007 session and amended in 2008. "I was proud to be a sponsor of this law," Barra said. "Cold War veterans deserve this benefit. They were on the front lines in the fight against the Soviet bloc's expansion and adventurism in their quest to spread the oppression of Communism across the globe. The Cold War veterans, in my opinion, never received adequate recognition for their service. This is one way in which our state Legislature can repay them."
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