Board hears and moves forward on senior and volunteer tax-exemption proposals, confirms appointments and stipends

Shelter Island's Town Board opened public hearings on two separate taxation items for targeted populations and took several personnel actions.

Staff summarized a proposed increase to the senior property-tax exemption that would create a sliding scale up to a 65% exemption at the lowest income tier. Town analysis estimated that applying higher exemptions to qualifying properties would redistribute roughly $21 million of assessed value and that the town-only tax impact would amount to approximately $42,180 redistributed — stated to equate to about $10.52 per average house valued at $1,621,000 under the town's calculation. The board closed the hearing with no immediate in-person public comment.

On volunteer exemptions, the board considered a proposal to reduce the minimum service required to qualify for the volunteer firefighter/ambulance-worker exemption from five years to two years; staff estimated the redistribution cost at approximately $0.35 per household based on projected new qualifiers and said the change is intended to help retention.

During the meeting the board also reappointed multiple members to municipal advisory boards (Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board, Ferry Study Group, Deer and Tick Committee) and appointed Scott Matthews to the Planning Board through 12/31/2032 after a roll-call vote. The board approved a $2,600 retroactive stipend for Donna Cass as senior-shopping assistance program coordinator.