The purpose of this article is to allow for
a tax exemption for Town of Fort Edward Cold War veterans allowable
pursuant to § 458-b of the Real Property Tax Law of the
State of New York, which was created by Chapter 655 of the Laws of
the State of New York for the year 2007.
Definitions as used in this article follow:
ACTIVE DUTY
Full-time duty in the United Sates 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 for a
period of more than 365 days in the United States Armed Forces during
the time period from September 2, 1945 to December 26, 1991, was discharged
or released there from under honorable conditions and has been awarded
the Cold War Recognition Certificate as authorized under Public Law
105-85, the 1998 National Defense Authorization Act.
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 for up
to five years.
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 the provisions of Chapter 655 of
the 2007 Laws of the State of New York amending the Real Property
Tax Law of the State of New York, the maximum veteran's exemption
from real property taxes allowable pursuant to § 458-b of
the Real Property Tax Law is established as follows:
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 the lesser
of $8,000 or $8,000 multiplied by the latest state equalization rate
for the Town of Fort Edward.
B. In addition to the exemption provided by Subsection
A of this section, 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 Town of Fort Edward, whichever is less.
This article shall take effect immediately and
shall apply to assessment rolls prepared on the basis of taxable status
dates occurring on or after such date.