Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Veterans Exemption topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Riverhead work session clarifies state law on disabled veterans' property-tax exemptions
Summary
At its March 26 work session the Riverhead Town Board heard veterans' questions about a state law authorizing exemptions for seriously disabled veterans, clarified eligibility requirements (a 100% VA combined rating or specified pecuniary assistance), and discussed efforts to simplify application paperwork.
The Riverhead Town Board invited local veterans to explain how a recently amended state law affects property-tax exemptions for seriously disabled veterans.
The supervisor told the board the governor signed initial legislation on Dec. 19 authorizing municipalities to opt into an exemption for certain seriously disabled veterans; the Legislature amended that law on Feb. 13 to make the exemption mandatory, with an effective date in October 2026. The board said the town has received numerous calls from veterans and is monitoring implementation locally.
Why it matters: Board members and veterans said confusion remains about who qualifies. Town officials emphasized the law’s two key eligibility paths: a 100% combined disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (or a finding of individual unemployability) and evidence of pecuniary assistance applied to acquire or modify a housing unit with special features made necessary by the disability. Without the pecuniary-assistance requirement, some veterans would be excluded under current language, speakers said.
A town official noted the county’s efforts to simplify paperwork and centralize forms so veterans can obtain necessary certifications more easily. "We've gotten a lot of calls about this," the supervisor said, describing outreach with county legislators to streamline documentation and allow options such as a single physician form at the Northport VA.
Veterans at the table described how current rules affect people differently. The board said the town’s records show 68 veterans listed as 100% disabled on the local roll, representing roughly $2.9 million in assessed value (about $38 million market value), figures the board offered to illustrate potential revenue impact if broad exemption thresholds change.
Board members and veterans also raised equity questions: younger veterans who rent or do not own property may receive little benefit from a property-tax exemption, speakers said, and some conditions such as PTSD present challenges to meeting the law’s housing-modification criteria.
What’s next: Town staff said they will continue to assist veterans with information, work with county legislators advocating for simplified forms, and monitor state guidance as the Oct. 2026 effective date approaches. The board left the record open for further questions and outreach to affected families.
Sources: Statements and questions from the supervisor, town staff, and veterans who addressed the board during the March 26 work session.
