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Legislators back local-law updates to expand property-tax exemptions for surviving volunteer first‑responders
Summary
The committee approved two local laws aligning Orange County with amended state RPTL Section 466‑a to increase or reinstate property-tax exemptions for surviving spouses of volunteer firefighters and ambulance members, including an increase from a 10% to a possible 50% exemption in specified circumstances.
The Rules Committee approved two local laws updating Orange County’s application of New York Real Property Tax Law Section 466‑a. One law increases the exemption for surviving spouses of enrolled volunteer firefighters and ambulance service members killed in the line of duty — replacing an existing 10% exemption with an allowance up to 50% of assessed value. Paul Wiley, Director of Real Property Tax Service, said "this is going to change an existing exemption that’s 10% and allowing it to increase to 50% for surviving spouses of a volunteer who was killed in the line of duty."
A second local law continues or reinstates a pre-existing exemption for surviving spouses of enrolled members who accrued at least 20 years of service to volunteer fire companies or ambulance services; the measure would repeal and replace Orange County Local Law No. 4 of 2023. Wiley told the committee these changes are similar in effect and necessary to align with the recent state amendments; both measures carried with unanimous committee support.
