Woodbury board adopts volunteer first-responder tax exemption, approves contracts and budget mods; denies village exemption

The Town Board of Woodbury at its Feb. 6 meeting adopted Introductory Local Law No. 1 of 2025 to allow volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance personnel who live in Woodbury to claim a local property-tax exemption even when they volunteer in another municipality; the board also approved intermunicipal agreements and budget adjustments, accepted an animal-control resignation, and denied a village request for tax exemptions on several parcels.

Why it matters: The local law affects eligibility for the 2025 property-tax billing cycle and could change tax obligations for qualifying volunteers. Several other approved actions allocate town resources or change budget line items; the denial of a village exemption affirms the town’s historical practice and a recent county-court ruling.

Key decisions and outcomes

- Introductory Local Law No. 1 of 2025 — Adopted. The board held a public hearing and then adopted a local law described to “allow all first responder volunteers the ability to receive tax exemptions in towns where they reside even if they are volunteering in another municipality.” Nicole…