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Yorktown board to hold public hearing on proposed veterans, first‑responder tax exemptions
Summary
After staff presented estimated fiscal impacts, the board agreed to hold a public hearing on requests to grant property‑tax exemptions for volunteer first responders, Cold War veterans and surviving spouses of fallen officers; staff estimated a 5% volunteer exemption would cost the district about $19,575 and that combined proposals could raise other taxpayers' rates by roughly 0.3%.
The Yorktown Central School District Board of Education agreed March 16 to schedule a public hearing to gather community input on several proposed property‑tax exemptions, including for volunteer firefighters and ambulance corps, Cold War veterans, disabled Cold War veterans and a recent state option for surviving spouses of fallen police officers.
Lisa Sanfilippo and other administrators presented fiscal analyses and eligibility criteria. For example, staff estimated that granting a 5% exemption for volunteer first responders would reduce district revenue by about $19,575 in aggregate, with the foregone amount redistributed across other taxable parcels. Staff estimated the Cold War veteran exemptions at roughly $5,000 in aggregate and told trustees that, combined, the three proposed changes would increase the tax rate for other taxpayers by about 0.3%.
Sanfilippo explained the mechanics of local adoption and timing: if the board acts within roughly 30 days, the assessor can make changes to the 2026 assessment roll that would affect the 2027–28 school‑year taxes; otherwise, changes would not be reflected until later. She also noted a separate state measure under consideration that would create a mandatory 100% exclusion for disabled veterans should it become law.
Board members discussed equity and budget effects: one trustee clarified that exemptions do not reduce the district's levy but instead spread the same levy across fewer taxpayers, with the remainder paying a slightly larger share. Trustees agreed to move forward with a public hearing so the community can weigh in before any final determination on exemption parameters.
