Real property owned by an enrolled member of the Village's
Volunteer Fire Department or by such enrolled member and spouse residing
in the Village of Valley Stream shall be exempt from taxation to the
extent of 10% of the assessed value of such property for Village taxes,
exclusive of any special assessments.
The property is used exclusively for residential purposes;
provided, however, in the event any portion of such property is not
used exclusively for the applicant's residence but is used for other
purposes, such portion shall be subject to taxation and the remaining
portion only shall be entitled to the exemption provided by this section;
and
The applicant has been certified as a member of the
Village's Volunteer Fire Department for at least five years. The Village
Assessor shall determine the procedure for certification.
Any enrolled member of the Village's Volunteer Fire
Department who accrues more than 20 years of active service and is
so certified shall be granted the 10% exemption as authorized by this
section for the remainder of his or her life.
The application for such exemption shall be filed
with the Village Assessor. The Village Assessor shall prescribe the
time period for filing for such exemption, but said period shall be
no less than 90 days.
No applicant who is a volunteer firefighter, who by
reason of such status is receiving any benefit under New York State
law on the effective date of this section, shall suffer any diminution
of such benefit because of the provisions of this section.