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Holbrook resident asks why Sachem uses $37,400 school income cap for senior exemptions when state cap is higher
Summary
A Holbrook resident asked the board May 7 why the district appears to apply a $37,400 income cap for senior school-tax exemptions while the state cap cited by the resident is $58,400; board members said they were not aware and will investigate.
Freda Petrizzini, a Holbrook resident and senior taxpayer, asked the Sachem Central School District board May 7 why the district uses a $37,400 income cap for calculating school-related senior exemptions when she believes the state limit is $58,400.
Petrizzini told the board she has tracked the decline in the local school-tax rebate she receives and said the district's lower cap meant some seniors do not qualify even though they meet the state threshold. "Sachem, which I live in, Sachem, their school cap is 37,400. I said, well, why is that?" she asked.
A board member said they were not familiar with Petrizzini's assertion and pledged to investigate, noting that municipalities and counties sometimes provide differing guidance and that the district would look into whether the cap is set by the town, county or the district itself.
The board also referenced a prior decision in which it declined a county proposal to include certain retirement-plan income in rebate calculations; board members said they try to avoid changes that would increase taxes for seniors. The board promised to follow up with Petrizzini in writing via the district office.
No formal action or policy change was taken at the meeting; the board said it would gather information and report back to the resident.
