Sandy property tax relief could be on the way to Huntington

The Town of Huntington plans to hold an early morning public hearing next month to consider adopting a law to provide assessment and tax relief to property owners impacted by superstorm Sandy.

Because the town’s assessment for taxes for 2012 were done before Sandy, many homeowners were forced to live in homes that were damaged or uninhabitable. Even though the homes were unusable, property owners who experienced substantial damage to their homes were still required to pay their normal property tax bill in 2013.

“It’s for people who had damage and were not able to utilize their home,” Town Supervisor Frank Petrone said. “We have about 400 homes in the township that probably will qualify.”

The state enacted the Super Storm Sandy Assessment Relief act earlier this year. The act says municipalities can elect and adopt a law that grants assessment relief to those impacted and grant them a rebate of their taxes based on a formula established by the state. The basis of the formula will use the amount of damage as a scale to determine the rebate.

“According to the law, we have a schedule to follow on promulgating our own law,” Petrone said. “That’s why we are having a public hearing. We have to do it and enact it the same day in order to meet a deadline.” The hearing will be held Dec. 6 at 9 a.m. at town hall.