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Rondout Valley board approves amended firefighter/ambulance tax exemption and raises senior-income threshold
Summary
The Rondout Valley Central School District board approved an amended resolution to preserve property tax exemptions for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers serving anywhere inside the district and raised the income threshold for a 50% senior exemption from $24,000 to $34,000 with a sliding scale to $45,000.
The Rondout Valley Central School District board voted to amend its real property tax exemption policy so volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers who provide services anywhere within the district are eligible for a school property tax reduction, and to raise the income threshold for the district—s 50% senior citizen exemption from $24,000 to $34,000 with a sliding scale up to $45,000.
Budget Committee Chair (speaker 1) opened the public hearing, saying the amendment responds to recent state changes in statutory language and restores eligibility for volunteers who live in one municipality but serve in another within the school district. "So if you—re a firefighter within the school district, you will get the discount," the presenter said, summarizing the intended effect for residents who serve neighboring municipalities.
Superintendent Elliott (speaker 4) read the formal recommended language for both items on behalf of the administration and tied the district action to the relevant New York State Real Property Tax Law provisions. For volunteer first responders the superintendent cited the district—s prior adoption under RPTL section 466-a and presented amended language extending the exemption to any volunteer firefighter or volunteer ambulance worker who provides services to a neighboring city, village, town, county or school district. For the senior exemption the superintendent cited RPTL section 467 when presenting the district—s proposed income thresholds and the partial (50%) exemption formula.
Board members moved and voted on the motions during the meeting; the chair noted five board members were present and the motions carried without recorded opposition. The volunteer/ambulance exemption and the adjusted senior income limits were approved as presented and will be incorporated into the district—s implementing procedures subject to statutory requirements.
Why it matters: The change clarifies that service to any part of the Rondout Valley Central School District qualifies a volunteer for the local school-tax reduction, preserving a benefit for first responders who live and serve in different municipalities within the district. Raising the senior-income threshold is intended to expand 50% partial-exemption eligibility to more older residents and provide a sliding relief scale up to $45,000 in income.
Next steps: The board approved the motions at this meeting and directed that the resolutions and any required notices be processed according to the law and incorporated into the district—s official minutes.
