Brookhaven, Huntington plan to exempt permanently disabled veterans from paying property taxes

Brookhaven and Huntington officials are planning to exempt permanently disabled veterans from paying town property taxes, using an updated state law that boosts benefits for former members of the armed services.

State lawmakers last month passed legislation allowing towns, cities and school districts to waive property taxes for disabled vets. Previous state law limited exemptions to 15% of property value with a maximum exemption of $12,000.

The exemption would be available for veterans with 100% service-related disabilities who are considered "unemployable" because of their injuries, officials said. The exemption applies only to primary residences, officials said.

The Brookhaven Town Board has scheduled a Jan. 29 public hearing to consider adopting the enhanced tax benefit. 

A recent Huntington newsletter said the town plans to opt in to the program early this year.

Southampton and Riverhead officials said they are reviewing the state statute, and Glen Cove Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck, in an email, said the city is "looking into" the exemption.

Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico said the new state law updates previous veterans tax exemptions already adopted by the town. He noted the exemption would affect only the town portion of the tax bill, adding that school districts and other taxing agencies would have to adopt the exemption separately. 

“The state law allows for the exemption, and we unanimously feel that we should do all that we can to help our veterans,” Panico said Tuesday in a phone interview.

The updated exemption, passed by the State Legislature last month and signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul, clarifies previously vague eligibility requirements, said State Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. (D-Ozone Park), who sponsored the Senate bill.

The earlier law, for example, did not clearly state that veterans were eligible if they could not work, he said Thursday in a telephone interview.

A bill to make the exemption mandatory for all towns, cities, counties, school districts and other taxing agencies passed the State Senate earlier this month, Addabbo said. It is awaiting passage in the Assembly, state records show.

“There was a lot of concern among the veterans that some of the municipalities … would be reluctant to opt in,” Addabbo said. “This is a step forward, but there’s more to do.”

He said lawmakers also want to extend eligibility to veterans of the post-Sept. 11 Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Currently only veterans of wars up to the 1991 Persian Gulf War are eligible.

Panico said he didn't know how many Brookhaven households would qualify for the exemption. He said some of the eligibility requirements may disqualify some injured veterans, such requiring that disabilities be certified by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs. 

“I was surprised how few people this bill would actually benefit,” Panico said. “It sounded great, but it’s clear … that some work needs to be done up in Albany.”

Newsday's Alek Lewis, Deborah S. Morris, Joseph Ostapiuk and Tara Smith contributed to this story. 

By Carl MacGowan

carl.macgowan@newsday.comCarlMacGowan

Carl MacGowan is a Long Island native who covers Brookhaven Town after having previously covered Smithtown, Suffolk County courts and numerous spot news and feature stories over his 20-plus year career at Newsday.