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Ways and Means hears staff on HERO Act veterans property-tax exemptions; item left in committee
Summary
City CFO said Everett has 64 veterans receiving property-tax exemptions and that the Board of Assessors will review how to use new flexibility in the HERO Act; the committee voted to keep the item in committee pending assessor details.
The Everett City Ways and Means Committee heard from the city chief financial officer on Monday about using the HERO Actto expand local flexibility for veteransproperty-tax exemptions, and the committee voted to leave the matter in committee while the Board of Assessors reviews the possible changes.
Committee members heard that "the city currently has 64 veterans that are receiving some form of, property tax exemption," and that exemptions under law can range "anywhere from $400 a year up to, full abatement," depending on classification and disability status, the city's chief financial officer, Mr. Dimas, said.
Why it matters: the HERO Act creates new or expanded options for municipalities to vary veteransexemptions. The CFO told the committee that the assessing office and the Board of Assessors have placed review of local applications and exemption levels on this month—s agenda; they will examine current applications and the fiscal impact and then make a recommendation to the mayor and city council.
Mr. Dimas told the committee the assessors "are gonna be going through taking a look at what our applications are, how that would impact, what our exemptions currently are, what we can go up to to the maximum, what impact that's gonna have to make a recommendation to the mayor and then to the city council." He added that the assessing office expects to have the requested information at its next meeting and will share it with council once available.
Members also noted outreach and access: a committee member said the veterans office has been moved to the first floor of the Connolly Center to improve accessibility, and urged veterans to check eligibility with the veterans director or the assessing office.
Committee action: after questions, a motion to leave the resolution in committee until staff from the assessing office and Board of Assessors could provide additional information carried; the committee did not take final action on changing exemption levels.
Details and next steps: the CFO recommended that eligible veterans contact the veterans director or the assessing office to determine entitlement; the assessing office will report back to the Board of Assessors this month and the committee expects to revisit the item after that report.
Ending: The committee did not adopt any local changes Monday; any change to Everett's exemption levels will require a formal recommendation from the Board of Assessors and subsequent action by the city council.
