Brighton board reviews senior tax-exemption options, decides to keep current schedule and monitor

Brighton Central School District Board of Education members discussed changes to the district's senior citizen property-tax exemption at their Sept. 9 business meeting and agreed to keep the existing exemption schedule in place while arranging regular reviews of the policy.

At a presentation to the board, staff member Lou Lamo explained how exemptions affect the district's taxable assessed value and tax rate, saying the district's recent 2.03% tax levy translated to a roughly 2.8% increase in average tax bills this year because the district's taxable base decreased. Lamo said the number of parcels receiving senior exemptions in the district has grown and that the town's exemptions contributed to a smaller tax base this year.

The presentation included a data-driven impact analysis showing the district currently has 159 parcels receiving the senior exemption; the town's tax rolls indicate 253 parcels receive a comparable town exemption. Lamo estimated an option to expand the school district's benefit to match the town's highest 50% exemption level for the currently enrolled 159 parcels would increase the average $200,000 homeowner's bill by about $14, or roughly 0.25% of the average tax bill. He cautioned the analysis is an estimate based on current rolls and that additional eligible property owners could change the outcome.

Resident Mary Meissner, who had raised the exemption previously, said she appreciated the board's attention to the issue and the staff report.

Board members discussed timing and equity. Several members said they were uncomfortable shifting additional tax burden onto other taxpayers without clearer state-level guidance and more complete data on assessment and exemption trends. One member said this decision felt better made at the state level than left to individual school districts. After discussion, the board did not vote to change the schedule. Instead the board chair said the exemption would remain as currently adopted and directed staff to provide regular updates and a formal review after the May 2026 budget vote and into the fall, so any change would affect the following budget year if adopted.

The presentation and the discussion covered how school-district-controlled exemptions interact with other exempt categories (not-for-profits, medical and educational properties) and with state programs such as STAR and the property tax cap. Lamo noted that some homeowners must apply to receive the exemption and that some eligible households may not currently be enrolled.

The board and staff agreed to keep the item on the district's radar and to return updated exemption analyses to the board on a regular schedule so members could consider any change with more complete data.