[Adopted 11-14-2007 by L.L. No. 9-2007]
A. 
Pursuant to the authority set forth in the New York State Real Property Tax Law § 458-b, the Village of Wappingers Falls hereby grants the maximum real property tax exemption allowable to Cold War veterans, which shall be 15% of the assessed value of qualified property as defined in § 458-b of the Real Property Tax Law; 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.
B. 
In addition to the exemption provided above, where the Cold War Veterans 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.
C. 
The exemption from real property taxation provided by this section shall only be applicable to Village taxation, and is not applicable to taxes levied for county, town or school purposes.
D. 
If a Cold War veteran receives an exemption under § 458 or 458-a of the Real Property Tax Law, the Cold War veteran shall not be eligible to receive the exemption pursuant to this article.
The Village hereby adopts the definitions set forth and contained in § 458-b of the Real Property Tax Law, as adopted by the legislature pursuant to the Laws of 2007, Chapter 655, and as the same may be amended from time to time thereafter.
The eligibility requirements for the exemption for Cold War veterans shall be as set forth in § 458-b of the Real Property Tax Law, as the same may be amended from time to time thereafter.
Applications for such exemption shall be filed with the Assessor for the Village of Wappingers Falls and shall be made by the owner, or all of the owners, of the property on a form prescribed by the New York State Board of Real Property Tax Services. The owner or owners shall file the completed form in the Assessor's office on or before the first appropriate taxable status date. The owner or owners of the property shall be required to re-file each year. Applicants shall re-file on or before the appropriate taxable status date. Any applicant convicted of willfully making any false statement in the application for such exemption will be subject to the penalties prescribed in the New York State Penal Law.