Southampton board hears Ocean Rescue chief on proposed partial tax exemption under RPTL §466‑m

Alex King, chief of the Southampton Village Ocean Rescue, urged the Southampton Union Free School District board at a public hearing to support a proposed partial real‑property tax exemption for enrolled Ocean Rescue members under New York’s Real Property Tax Law §466‑m.

“We have 70 members. We’re on call 24/7. We’re volunteers,” King told the board while introducing a short video of the unit’s operations. King described year‑round training that includes night and storm rescues, interagency responses with Coast Guard and county helicopters, and community CPR instruction — “we run eight CPR courses this year,” he said.

King said the Ocean Rescue seeks parity with other first responders, noting the unit has pursued statutory recognition and related benefits at the state level. He also described outreach programs designed to teach swimming skills in underserved communities, including programming aimed at Shinnecock and other minority residents.

Multiple residents and volunteer firefighters told the board they supported the exemption. “I think the Ocean Rescue are first responders of the first degree and often overlooked,” one commenter said, urging the board to extend benefits to volunteers.

The board's president explained the procedural path for the measure: the public hearing was opened and then closed at the meeting; the exemption will appear as consent agenda item 12.01 and may be considered for a vote later in the session. The public hearing formally adjourned at about 7:10 p.m.

What happens next: The item was placed on the consent agenda for the board’s regular meeting; the board did not adopt the exemption during the hearing. Any final decision will appear in the board’s vote on the listed agenda item.