[Adopted 7-9-2008 by L.L. No. 1-2008]
It is the intent of this article to:
A. 
Authorize a limited exemption from real property owned by veterans and who rendered military service to the United States during the Cold War and their surviving spouses pursuant to § 458-b of the Real Property Tax Law; and
B. 
To establish maximum exemption amounts thereunder.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ACTIVE DUTY
Full-time duty in the United States Armed Forces, other than active duty for training.
ARMED FORCES
The United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
COLD WAR VETERANS
A person, male or female, who served on active duty in the United States Armed Forces, during the time period from September 2, 1945 to December 26, 1991, and was discharged or released therefrom under honorable conditions.
LATEST CLASS RATIO
The latest final class ratio established by the State Board pursuant to Title 1 of Article 12 of the Real Property Tax Law for use in a special assessing unit as defined in § 1801 of the Real Property Tax Law.
LATEST STATE EQUALIZATION RATE
The latest final equalization rate established by the State Board pursuant to Article 12 of the Real Property Tax Law.
QUALIFIED OWNER
A Cold War veteran, the spouse of a Cold War veteran, or the unremarried surviving spouse of a deceased Cold War veteran. Where property is owned by more than one qualified owner, the exemption to which each is entitled may be combined. Where a veteran is also the unremarried surviving spouse of a veteran, such person may also receive any exemption to which the deceased spouse was entitled.
QUALIFIED RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY
Property owned by a qualified owner which is used exclusively for residential purposes; provided, however, that in the event that any portion of such property is not used exclusively for residential purposes, but is used for other purposes, such portion shall be subject to taxation and only the remaining portion used exclusively for residential purposes shall be subject to the exemption provided by this article. Such property shall be the primary residence of the Cold War veteran or the unremarried surviving spouse of a Cold War veteran, unless the Cold War veteran or unremarried surviving spouse is absent from the property due to medical reasons or institutionalization.
SERVICE CONNECTED
With respect to disability or death, that such disability was incurred or aggravated, or that the death resulted from a disability incurred or aggravated, in the line of duty on active military, naval or air service.
A. 
A qualifying residential real property shall be exempt from taxation to the extent of 10% of the assessed value of such property; provided, however, that such exemption shall not exceed $8,000 or the product of $8,000 multiplied by the latest state equalization rate of the assessing unit.
B. 
In addition to the exemption provided by Subsection A of this § 235-16, where the Cold War veteran received a compensation rating from the United States Veterans Affairs or from the United States Department of Defense because of a service-connected disability, qualifying residential real property shall be exempt from taxation to the extent of the product of the assessed value of such property, multiplied by 50% of the Cold War veteran disability rating; provided, however, that such exemption shall not exceed $40,000, or the product of $40,000 multiplied by the latest state equalization rate for the assessing unit, or, in the case of a special assessing unit, the latest class ratio, whichever is less.
[Amended 2-14-2018 by L.L. No. 1-2018]
A. 
The exemption from taxation provided by this article shall be applicable to town and county taxation only and not from school taxes.
B. 
If a Cold War veteran receives the exemption under § 458 or 458-a of the Real Property Tax Law, the Cold War veteran shall not be eligible to receive the exemption under this article.
Application for exemption shall be made by the owner, or all of the owners, of the property on a form prescribed by the State Board. The owner or owners shall file the completed form in the Assessor's office on or before the first appropriate taxable status date. The exemption shall continue in full force and effect for all appropriate subsequent tax years, and the owner or owners of the property shall not be required to refile each year. Applicants shall be required to refile on or before the appropriate taxable status date if the percentage of disability percentage increased or decreased or may refile if other changes have occurred which affect qualification for an increased or decreased amount of exemption. Any applicant convicted of willfully making any false statement in the application for such exemption shall be subject to the penalties in the Penal Law.
This article shall take effect on March 1, 2009, for the 2010 tax rolls.