Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Volunteer Exemption topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Woodbury schedules hearing to amend volunteer firefighter tax-exemption after state form change
Summary
Village trustees moved to hold a public hearing on local amendments to a volunteer firefighter/ambulance tax-exemption after the state changed the exemption form; the board was told two local provisions will be removed and the change must be adopted by the March 1 tax-assessable date.
Village of Woodbury trustees voted to schedule a public hearing on local amendments to the village's volunteer firefighter and ambulance service property-tax exemption after a speaker said the state amended the exemption form.
A staff member told trustees the state revised the form that determines how volunteers qualify for the local exemption and that two local sections are being removed: the requirement that the Woodbury fire chief and Woodbury ambulance president prepare a report when volunteers serve outside the village, and a provision that granted a specific discount on Village of Woodbury taxes tied to the fire department. The staff member said the changes must be in place by March 1, the tax-assessable date.
The hearing was scheduled for the board's next meeting to allow the clerk to publish required notice. Trustee Freygan moved to schedule the hearing; Trustee Favreau seconded the motion, and the board voted in favor.
Why it matters: the change follows a state-level revision to the exemption form and will alter the village's administrative process for verifying volunteers who serve outside Woodbury. The March 1 deadline means the board must act promptly if it wants local rules to conform to the amended state form for the upcoming tax year.
At the meeting, the presenter identified Julie Rose as the sole assessor who sent the updated form and asked the board to hold the hearing so the clerk can complete publication in time. Trustee Freygan formally moved to schedule the public hearing; Trustee Favreau seconded; the board approved.
The board did not adopt the amendments at this meeting; the scheduled public hearing will be the next step and provides an opportunity for public comment before the board considers final adoption.
