AMY PAULIN IN THE NEWS
Monday, July 27, 2009
Paterson signs bill giving veterans tax breaks
The Journal News
By Janie Rosman
EASTCHESTER - An eleventh-hour decision by Gov. David Paterson extends the ability of counties and municipalities to increase property tax exemptions for veterans, and adds those who live in owner-occupied co-op units.
"This law will give a different ratio and would be calculated according to whatever the assessed value of the co-op is," said Westchester County Legislator Vito Pinto, D-Eastchester.
"It is my belief that all veterans who give their time to our country, both in times of war and times of peace, are at risk for harm and should be afforded equal treatment and benefits," said Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, who sponsored the legislation.
Paterson received the bill July 13 and had 10 days to sign or veto it. He approved it Thursday. Westchester County and Eastchester, Tuckahoe and Scarsdale have said they will take advantage of the legislation, as they have in the past.
In August 2007, then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer signed into law a real property tax exemption of up to 15 percent for those who served in the armed forces between Sept. 2, 1945, and Dec. 26, 1991.
It was then up to each county and town to enact the property tax break based on a formula developed by the state.
"We passed it immediately (in January 2008)," Pinto said of the legislation he sponsored with Legislator James Maisano and county board Chairman Bill Ryan.
Eastchester was one of the first municipalities to opt in and plans to do so again.
"It's a decision for the Town Board to make. However, we would be honored to put it (the exemption) on the table again," Town Supervisor Anthony Colavita said.
Warren Gross, a Cold War veteran and New Rochelle co-op owner, reached out to Paulin about the need for extended exemptions.
"The larger picture is that it's high time to give attention to all veterans be they combat or Cold War," he said.
Said Bob Foster, a commander at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2285 in Eastchester, "The governor is not only helping the veterans of yesterday, he is also inspiring the young veterans of today to rest assured they get help when they return home."