Tiverton to advertise proposed changes to veterans tax exemptions, including possible increase to $250 credit

The Tiverton Town Council voted to advertise a public hearing on proposed amendments related to veterans tax exemptions, including clarifications on whether a 100% disabled-veteran exemption can transfer to a surviving spouse and consideration of raising the standard veteran exemption.

Assessor Robert explained the housekeeping nature of some changes, the need to correct where an earlier local amendment was placed in the wrong section of the municipal code, and that changing transferability for 100% disabled veterans would likely require state legislative action or coordination with legislative codification offices. He presented comparative figures for neighboring towns and suggested $250 as a possible new standard for the basic veteran exemption; he said that raising the exemption to $250 would change the tax rate by about "4 tenths of a penny." Councilors asked for a comparative table and the solicitor said the change would follow the normal advertisement and public-hearing schedule.

The council voted to advertise the amendment for public hearing (scheduled for January 12). The solicitor said the town will draft a resolution and letter to the state delegation about any statutory changes needed.