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Council unanimously refers three veterans‑exemption measures to ordinance committee
Summary
The city council referred three proposed veterans-exemption measures — spousal relief for survivors of veterans, relief for totally disabled/unemployable veterans (building assessment or motor vehicle exemptions), and a gold‑star family exemption — to the ordinance committee after legal review was requested.
The Bristol City Council unanimously moved to send three proposed veteran‑exemption measures to the ordinance committee for review.
Assessor Tom Genoto briefed the council on changes that took effect Oct. 1, 2024 and described two measures raised by residents and staff: (1) an exemption for spouses of veterans who had a permanent and total disability rating prior to Oct. 1 but who are now deceased, allowing removal of a building assessment from the property tax record; and (2) an exemption for veterans classified as totally disabled/unemployable that would allow either removal of the building assessment or an exemption for a motor vehicle. A third proposed measure would place a gold‑star family exemption on the books to cover future eligible families.
Genoto said the measures have been collected and a legal opinion request was sent to corporation counsel; assistant corporation counsel Jonathan Donovan was able to review some materials in short order. The council voted to refer the three items to the ordinance committee for review and potential action so the committee can recommend ordinance language and the city can assess fiscal impacts.
City Treasurer John Latavico, who serves as liaison to the Veterans Council, told the meeting the Veterans Council endorsed moving the measures forward. The council did not adopt any exemptions at the meeting and directed the ordinance committee to return recommendations following legal review and fiscal analysis.
