Greece Central adopts partial veterans school tax exemption after public hearing

The Greece Central School District Board of Education on Tuesday adopted a partial veterans school tax exemption following a public hearing that drew veterans, American Legion members and other residents urging board approval.

Board action and vote came after a presentation on the scope and fiscal impact of the exemption and two hours of public comment. The board voted to adopt the resolution by roll call, with the motion moved by Mr. Maloney and seconded by Mr. Butler; the measure passed 6 to 1.

The exemption would reduce assessed value for qualifying veterans on their primary residence, lowering their school tax bills while shifting the tax burden to nonqualifying property owners so that the district’s total tax levy remains unchanged. Presenters said the exemption could be applied beginning with the September 2026 tax roll if the board’s resolution is submitted to and implemented by the Town of Greece assessor.

Assistant Superintendent Khalili and Megan Bradshaw, the district’s finance director, outlined two statutory options available under New York law: the “alternative veterans exemption” and the “Cold War veterans exemption.” Bradshaw explained the typical amounts discussed at the hearing: up to 15% of assessed value capped at $36,000 for wartime service, additional amounts for combat-zone service, and larger reductions for service‑connected disability (transcript: “If you qualify for the service connected disability, you could receive up to another 50% assessment reduction or up to a max of a hundred and $20,000”). The presenters also said the practical value of an exemption depends on the town equalization rate; as that rate falls the dollar value of the same statutory exemption declines.

Bradshaw walked the board through the district fiscal example. Using the 2024 tax roll, district staff told the board that between about $86 million and $87 million in taxable assessed value would shift from exempt properties to nonexempt properties if the exemption were adopted, increasing the school tax rate by an estimated $0.45 per $1,000 of assessed value (about 1.8%). The presenters gave an example: a home assessed at $225,000 would see an estimated increase of about $102 in its school tax bill. Bradshaw stressed that the district’s total levy would remain the same and noted that veterans who already receive a town or county exemption would not need to reapply to receive the school exemption if it is adopted.

Speakers at the public hearing urged adoption. Tim Smith, who identified himself as an Army veteran and long‑time Greece resident, told the board: “Let me be clear, this is not a full tax exemption,” and urged the board to follow other Monroe County districts that have adopted the change. Daniel Perna, commander of American Legion Post 468 (as introduced in testimony), said the break would “help many qualifying veterans on fixed incomes, those with disabilities, and also their surviving spouses.” Ed Wozak, a past commander of the Greece American Legion post, cited state adoption rates and said many districts have already adopted similar exemptions: “Since the law was enacted, 254 school districts, about 41% of the entire state of New York, have adopted this exemption.” (All quotes attributed to speakers who spoke during the public hearing and are in the article’s speaker list.)

In the roll call the board made an interest disclosure before the vote; one board member declared a conflict of interest and voted yes. The board’s recorded outcome was 6 in favor, 1 opposed; the transcript identifies named board members voting yes and no at the roll call but not a fully disambiguated list in a single, clean roster. The district clerk will include the official roll-call sheet in the minutes.

If the board’s resolution is implemented by the Town of Greece assessor, the exemption would be available for school taxes beginning with the September 2026 roll; the deadline to file for the 2026 roll (if adopted) was stated as March 1, 2026. The presenters directed residents with questions about eligibility or filing to the Town of Greece Assessor’s Office, which they said processes exemptions and can confirm eligibility rules.

The board’s action was procedural: adoption of the resolution and notification to the town assessor; no additional budget appropriation or levy change was approved tonight.

The district said it will send required notifications to the Town of Greece to effect the exemption for the September 2026 roll if the town adopts the implementation steps described by district staff.