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West Irondequoit board votes down local veterans school tax exemption, 1–6
Summary
After public comment and a board discussion about fiscal impact and equity, the West Irondequoit Board of Education declined to adopt a state-authorized partial veterans school tax exemption for the 2025 tax year in a 1–6 roll call vote.
The West Irondequoit Central School District Board of Education voted 1–6 on Feb. 27 to reject a local resolution to adopt a state-authorized partial veterans exemption from school property taxes, a proposal that would have taken effect for the 2025 tax year if approved.
The resolution would have implemented the state-authorized partial exemption described by district staff: a 15% exemption for qualifying veterans, an additional 10% for combat veterans, and a possible additional disability-based exemption of up to 50% with a maximum assessed-value reduction of $40,000. Superintendent Aaron Johnson told the board the district complied with the steps required by New York State, including holding a public hearing on Jan. 23.
Supporters urged the board to approve the exemption at Tuesday’s public-comments portion of the meeting. "I'm requesting that you, members of the Board of Education, please resolve this partial tax exemption on school taxes," said Dan Perna, commander of American Legion Post 468 in Greece, who said roughly 729 veterans live in West Irondequoit. Richard Barone, a longtime local official and veteran, told the board the exemption is an expression of gratitude and cited other districts and the recent vote in the Town of Greece.
Board members who opposed the measure said adopting the exemption would shift part of the school tax burden to other local taxpayers and that responsibility for veterans’ benefits should rest with state or federal government. In the roll-call discussion before the vote, one board member who spoke in favor said, "I support this stack of motion. So I'll be voting yes." Several others cited concerns about fairness and the district’s fiscal obligations; one member said, "the mechanism of this exemption as set up by New York State places school boards in the difficult position of either denying the benefit to a deserving group or shifting an additional tax burden onto other taxpayers in our community." Another member said, "I'm not comfortable voting yes for something, that is gonna show burden to others." The motion failed on a 1–6 vote.
No financial offset or alternate mitigation plan was adopted at the meeting. District staff had provided the board with calculations and answered questions in advance, and several public speakers urged the board to act on the exemption following recent passage by neighboring jurisdictions. The board did not move any further fiscal actions tied to the resolution during the meeting.
With the resolution defeated, the school district’s tax levy and revenue assumptions remain unchanged for the 2025 tax year; supporters and speakers indicated they may continue advocacy at the state level.
