More tax exemptions?

By CHARLIE BUTERBAUGH

MONTICELLO, NY — A new law authorizing property tax relief for emergency services personnel, which state officials recently passed on to local governments, raised concerns among Sullivan County legislators as they met in committee last week.

The law authorizes the tax exemption of 10 percent of the assessed value of residential properties owned by volunteer fire fighters and ambulance corps members and their spouses. The version that state lawmakers passed for Sullivan County caps the amount of the exemption at $3,000.

Paul Burckhard, the county’s director of Real Property Tax Services, said that with the cap, the amount of exemption is not significant. But, he said, “If you were to go from the $3,000 cap to 10-percent [exemption], it would be a huge impact.”

“My perspective is that the legislation passed without a whole lot of input,” said Legislator Rodney Gaebel, chairman of the Real Property Committee. “I think it’s an un-funded mandate in one respect.”

Gaebel said officials at the town, village and school district levels would be the ones to take the heat from residents if they turn down the state law for fear of losing more revenues. Under the state’s home rule system, municipal governments decide whether to opt in or not.

The committee postponed a decision on the law. Gaebel said he is interested in whether more criteria can be included in the law before next year’s tax day, March 1.

Burckhard said the law would require ambulance corps and fire districts to provide lists of active members to assessors, and that volunteers would have to be enrolled for at least five years in order to qualify for the exemption.