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Combat-disabled veteran urges town to pursue retroactive 100% property-tax exemption; board says attorney and assessor will review
Summary
A combat-disabled veteran, Moshe Aaron, asked the Town of Babylon board to pursue retroactive application of a 100% property-tax exemption and asked for clearer guidance; the board said the town attorney will review retroactivity and staff will consult the assessor and affected school districts.
Moshe Aaron, who identified himself as a combat veteran and said he uses the name "MA," told the Town of Babylon board on Jan. 14 that he receives a 100% combat-disabled veteran exemption but was seeking clarity on whether the town could adopt a retroactive deferment to cover prior tax years.
"My total income is $865 and change per month," Aaron said while describing severe service-related injuries and financial hardship. He said he had previously taken the 100% disabled exemption and asked whether the town board could adopt a retroactive exemption for tax years, including 2024 and 2025.
Supervisor Schaeffer responded that multiple taxing jurisdictions must act for the exemption to apply to an owner's full tax bill: the town board, the county (Suffolk County) and the applicable school district (the transcript references the "COPEG" school district in Aaron's case). Schaeffer said the town attorney is reviewing whether a retroactive application is possible and that the attorney planned to meet with the assessor, Jorge Rosario, to review details.
Aaron also said he experienced difficulty obtaining SNAP benefits and described administrative problems he faced when applying for social services. The board acknowledged his testimony and said staff will provide answers and contact the relevant school superintendents; Schaeffer said the town would send messages to the 11 school districts that cover parts of the town urging support if needed.
The board did not adopt a policy or vote on retroactive relief at the meeting; instead, members directed staff to have the attorney and assessor review the legal options and report back.
