For the purposes of this article, the following
definitions shall apply:
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 VETERAN
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 this chapter for use in a special assessing unit as
defined in § 1801 of the Real Property Tax Law of the State
of New York.
LATEST STATE EQUALIZATION RATE
The latest final equalization rate established by the state
board pursuant to Article 12 of the Real Property Tax Law of the State
of New York.
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.
Pursuant to § 458-b of the Real Property
Tax Law of the State of New York, the Town Board of the Town of North
Hempstead, after due consideration, has provided for a partial real
property tax exemption for qualified Cold War veterans, as specified
in this article.
Qualified real property owned by a Cold War
veteran or an otherwise qualified owner shall be exempt from taxation
to the extent of 15% of the assessed value of such property; provided
however, that such exemption shall not exceed $12,000 or the product
of $12,000 multiplied by the latest state equalization rate of the
assessing unit, or, in the case of a special assessing unit, the latest
class ratio, whichever is less.
In addition to the exemption provided by §
51-25 of this chapter, 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 by the Town of North Hempstead 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 Town of North Hempstead, whichever is less.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
applications for the exemption authorized pursuant to this article
shall be considered timely filed if they are filed on or before the
15th day of March of the appropriate year.
This article shall take effect immediately upon
filing with the Secretary of State of the State of New York.