Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tax Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Steuben Legislature presents plan to extend volunteer firefighter property-tax exemption to surviving spouses
Summary
Legislators presented Local Law Tentatively No. Two to amend prior local law so surviving spouses of enrolled volunteer firefighters or ambulance workers killed in the line of duty could receive up to a 50% property-tax exemption; a public hearing is set for April 27, 2026.
The Steuben County Legislature on March 23 presented Local Law Tentatively No. Two, which would amend Local Law No. Eight of 2023 to expand real-property tax exemptions for enrolled volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers. Key changes include extending an exemption of up to 50 percent of assessed value to surviving spouses of enrolled members killed in the line of duty and codifying eligibility criteria and certification processes.
The local law text references state authority (RPTL §466-a) and sets eligibility requirements — residency in the jurisdiction served, primary-residence status, exclusive residential use, enrollment lists certified by the relevant authority, and service-duration criteria. The resolution schedules a public hearing on April 27, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. in the Steuben County Legislative Chambers before any final adoption.
County Manager Jack Wheeler clarified that the local text aligns with state law and that the apparent change is primarily the expansion to surviving spouses and the up-to-50-percent exemption wording; committee referrals and certified copies to RPTSA, Director of Public Safety and Commissioner of Finance were included in the resolution.
