Cheshire council unanimously expands veterans property-tax exemptions beginning 10/01/2025

The Cheshire Town Council unanimously approved Resolution 111825-2 on Nov. 18 to expand municipal property-tax exemptions for veterans and certain family members effective with the Oct. 1, 2025 assessment date.

The resolution, moved by Councilor Jinx and seconded by Councilor Pearson, adds three options for municipal implementation: unmarried surviving spouses of veterans who otherwise would qualify but died before the state exemption's implementation date; veterans designated as Totally Disabled Individual Unemployable (TDIU) by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and surviving spouses or parents of service members killed in the line of duty (Gold Star families). The resolution applies, as written, to the dwelling (subject property) beginning with the 10/01/2025 assessment year.

Town staff provided council members with an estimate of the fiscal impact. Using the current mill rate for projection purposes, finance staff estimated the additional cost for extending the dwelling-only exemption to the newly covered groups at roughly $152,000, bringing the total fiscal exposure under the new options to about $408,000 compared with the town's earlier baseline. Staff noted the town had already accounted for part of the change in the current budget cycle and that the change affects next year’s tax bills (bills that will be issued in July 2026).

Veterans and veterans’-service leaders spoke in favor of the change. Jeff Falk, commander of the VFW in town, urged the council to include veterans who are most in need and noted prior outreach at VFW and district meetings had made many potentially eligible veterans aware of the law. Don Falk, American Legion commander and chairman of the veterans committee, pressed the council to include widows and certain other groups in a positive light.

Council discussion centered on phasing and scope. Several councilors supported phasing in the expansion (building/dwelling first, land later) to limit near-term budget impacts, while others said the town could revisit adding the two‑acre land exemption later. Councilors also exchanged questions with staff on how the exemption would apply to condominiums and how the land exemption would change individual tax bills. Town staff confirmed that the resolution, as adopted, applied to the dwelling only; extending the land exemption would be a separate municipal decision.

Councilor Dina Allard, in remarks delivered during the meeting, framed the expansion as restoring benefits some veterans had expected after state-level changes to the statute: “When lies like these become political strategy, cooperation becomes nearly impossible,” she said in an earlier public statement read during the meeting when addressing misinformation in local political discourse; in the veterans debate she stressed the town’s duty to support veterans and families.

The council voted on the resolution after discussion. The motion carried unanimously. Town staff said the exemption would appear on tax bills effective for the fiscal year based on the Oct. 1, 2025 grand list, with bills issued in July 2026. Any future changes (for example, adding the land exemption) would require additional council action.

Next steps: Town staff and the assessor's office will implement the changes administratively and notify residents and veterans’ organizations about eligibility and application procedures.