Hauppauge board adopts three property-tax exemption resolutions for volunteers, seniors and people with disabilities

The Hauppauge Union Free School District Board of Education on Feb. 25, 2025 adopted three resolutions to continue or expand local property-tax exemptions for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers, for homeowners 65 and older, and for qualified residents with disabilities.

The board held public hearings before each vote. For the volunteer exemption, the board considered continuation of a 10% reduction in assessed value for eligible volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers under RPTL 466-a and a change in the minimum service requirement from five years to two years. A resident asked whether police officers could be added to that exemption, saying, “I think they deserve it also to have the same partial exemption that you're offering to the firefighters,” and noting that police are often first responders. The board attorney replied that the state law the board was acting under “only addresses volunteer ambulance workers and volunteer firefighters.” The board said staff would look into whether any other exemption could apply to police officers.

Board members also considered and adopted related resolutions to increase income limits for exemptions for homeowners 65 and older and for homeowners with disabilities. District staff member Miss Sienna told the board the proposal would raise the base income threshold from $29,000 to $50,000 and the top of the sliding-scale range from $37,400 to $58,400. Using current assessed values and parcel counts from the towns of Islip and Smithtown, staff estimated an increased cost to taxpayers of about $25 to $55 per household per year under current tax rates. The staff presentation said the impact to taxpayers was “little to no impact” for the disability exemption because only a very small number of parcels qualify.

Each resolution was adopted by roll call and declared duly adopted on Feb. 25, 2025. The volunteer exemption resolution was adopted 7–0; the senior exemption resolution was adopted 7–0; and the disability exemption resolution was adopted 7–0. Board members recorded as voting yes during the roll calls in the transcript were: Mister Varshae, Mister Scritto, Mister Scoredo, Mister Buscarino, Miss Collins, Doctor Grama, Doctor Kraffa, Mister Kiley and Mister Michaels (transcript roll calls show these names as recorded; the tally in each case was unanimous 7–0). The resolutions say the senior and disability threshold changes would apply for tax year 2026 and that the board may revisit the resolutions before March 1, 2026 if the district receives materially different information.

Board discussion emphasized the small number of qualifying parcels for the disability exemption and staff’s confidence in the impact estimates. Miss Sienna said she had worked with the assessors of the towns of Islip and Smithtown and had received exemption-impact reports and spreadsheets tying assessed values to parcel counts. On public comment, a speaker asked the board to consider police officers for similar treatment; the board’s attorney and members said they would check what the state statutes permit.

The board also confirmed during closing business that previously adopted veterans’ exemptions remain in effect and were not changed by the votes on Feb. 25.

Votes at a glance: • Volunteer firefighter and volunteer ambulance worker exemption (RPTL 466-a): continue 10% assessed-value reduction; reduce minimum service requirement from five years to two years. Motion made by the presiding board member; second recorded in the minutes. Vote: 7–0; declared duly adopted 02/25/2025. • Senior citizens exemption (increase income thresholds): raise base income from $29,000 to $50,000 and top sliding-scale limit from $37,400 to $58,400; estimated taxpayer impact $25–$55 per household per year (current rates). Motion by the presiding board member; seconded by Mister Kiley (as recorded). Vote: 7–0; declared duly adopted 02/25/2025; applicable for tax year 2026; subject to revision before 03/01/2026 if new data warrant. • Disability exemption (income thresholds aligned with senior change): same income ranges as senior exemption; staff estimated little to no fiscal impact because few parcels qualify. Motion by the presiding board member; second recorded in the minutes. Vote: 7–0; declared duly adopted 02/25/2025.

Why it matters: the changes expand eligibility for property-tax relief to more local volunteers, older residents and residents with disabilities, while staff projections indicate modest fiscal impact under current assessed values. The board recorded that it will revisit the measures if updated assessor data change the estimated cost to taxpayers.

The board’s next regular meeting was announced as March 4, 2025.