Town of Mount Pleasant, NY Article X Veterans Exemptions

[Adopted 3-8-2022 by L.L. No. 1-2022]

§ 196-54 Legislative intent.

The purpose of this article is to set forth and provide the real property tax exemptions that are effective in the Town of Mount Pleasant and available for the benefit of our veterans.

§ 196-55 Eligible funds exemption.

A. Exemption granted. The Mount Pleasant Town Board hereby determines that it will grant veterans, or the spouse, or unremarried surviving spouse, or dependent father or mother, or the children under 21 years of age, an eligible funds exemption from Town real property taxes in accordance with Real Property Tax Law § 458.

B. Maximum exemption. The Town of Mount Pleasant hereby provides that the maximum exemption allowable under the eligible funds exemption for Town taxes is $7,500 in assessed value, as provided in Real Property Tax Law § 458(2).

C. Ineligibility. Veterans receiving an eligible funds exemption for Town taxes, pursuant to Real Property Tax Law § 458(2), shall not be eligible to receive an exemption for Town taxes available under either the alternative veterans exemption or Cold War veterans exemption, pursuant to Real Property Tax Law § 458-a or 458-b. However, where the applicable school district has not allowed veterans to receive an eligible funds exemption for school taxes, but has allowed for veterans to only receive the alternative veterans exemptions, pursuant to Real Property Tax Law § 458-a, such veterans may apply for an eligible funds exemption from the Town taxes while also applying for an alternative veterans exemption which would only apply to their school taxes.

§ 196-56 Alternative veterans exemption.

A. Exemption granted. The Mount Pleasant Town Board hereby determines that it will grant veterans alternative tax exemptions to veteran taxpayers, the spouse of a veteran or the unremarried surviving spouse of a veteran for their Town taxes in accordance with Real Property Tax Law § 458-a.

B. The following set of Town tax exemptions, which are the maximums established by § 458-a of the Real Property Tax Law, shall be applicable to those eligible, veteran taxpayers, the spouse of a veteran or the unremarried surviving spouse of a veteran in the Town of Mount Pleasant;

(1) War veterans: 15% of assessed value to a maximum of $75,000, or the product of $75,000 multiplied by the latest state equalization rate for the assessing unit, whichever is less; and where eligible.

(2) Combat zone veterans: 10% of assessed value to a maximum of $50,000, or the product of $50,000 multiplied by the latest state equalization rate for the assessing unit, whichever is less; and/or where eligible.

(3) Disabled veterans: the product of the assessed value of such property multiplied by 50% of the veteran's disability rating; provided, however, that such exemption shall not exceed $250,000 or the product of $250,000 multiplied by the latest state equalization rate for the assessing unit, whichever is less.

C. Ineligibility. If a veteran, the spouse of a veteran or the unremarried surviving spouse of a veteran receives an exemption for Town taxes under the eligible funds exemption or the Cold War veterans exemption, pursuant to Real Property Tax Law § 458 or 458-b, they will not be eligible to receive the exemption from Town taxes under this section. However, veterans receiving an eligible funds exemption under Real Property Tax Law § 458 for Town taxes may receive an alternative veterans exemption, pursuant to Real Property Tax Law § 458-a, which would only apply to their school taxes, wherein such applicable school district has adopted the provisions of Real Property Tax Law § 458-a.

§ 196-57 Cold War veterans exemption.

A. Exemption granted. The Mount Pleasant Town Board hereby determines that it will grant Cold War veterans exemptions to a Cold War veteran, the spouse of a Cold War veteran, or the unremarried surviving spouse of a deceased Cold War veteran for Town taxes in accordance with Real Property Tax Law § 458-b.

B. Maximum exemption. The Town of Mount Pleasant hereby provides that the maximum exemptions allowable under the Cold War veterans exemption for Cold War veterans, the spouse of a Cold War veteran, or the unremarried surviving spouse of a deceased Cold War veteran exemption are:

(1) Cold War veterans: 15% of assessed value to a maximum of $75,000, or the product of $75,000 multiplied by the latest state equalization rate for the assessing unit, whichever is less; and where eligible and where applicable.

(2) Disabled Cold War veterans: the product of the assessed value of such property multiplied by 50% of the veteran's disability rating; provided, however, that such exemption shall not exceed $250,000 or the product of $250,000 multiplied by the latest state equalization rate for the assessing unit, whichever is less.

C. Ineligibility. If a veteran receives an exemption for Town taxes under Real Property Tax Law § 458 or 458-a, they will not be eligible to receive the exemption from Town taxes under this section.

§ 196-58 Veterans exemption for unit shareholders within cooperatives.

This article is to provide the above enumerated veterans exemption for unit shareholders within a cooperative. This exemption is adopted pursuant to the authority provided under Real Property Tax Law §§ 458, 458-a and 458-b, and all definitions, terms and conditions of said subsections shall apply.

§ 196-59 Severability.

If any provision of this article, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the remainder of this article, and the application of such provisions to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby.