County looks to extend exemption for Cold War vets

Photo by Tom Rivers: David Kusmiersczak of Medina speaks in favor of keeping a tax exemption for Cold War veterans during a public hearing on Wednesday.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 November 2017 at 9:58 am

ALBION – Orleans County plans to keep a tax exemption for Cold War veterans. The exemption is due to expire on March 31, 2018.

The county enacted the exemption 10 years ago and it is due to sunset. The exemption is good for up to 10 percent or a maximum of $4,000 off the assessed value of a property.

With a county tax rate of about $10 per $1,000 of assessed property, the maximum exemption would save a Cold War veteran about $40 in county taxes.

There are about 100 veterans in the county currently receiving the exemption, said Dawn Allen, the county’s director of Real Property Tax Services Department.

Earl Schmidt, the director of the county’s Veterans Service Agency, has been pushing county officials to renew the exemption. During a public hearing on Wednesday, Schmidt said some counties may have a gap in the exemption due to it expiring. He doesn’t want that to happen in Orleans County.

“We are ahead of the game,” Schmidt said.

The exemption is good for eligible veterans who served in the military from Sept. 2, 1945 to Dec. 26, 1991.

The exemption also includes up to $20,000 off the assessment value for property owned by disabled veterans.

David Kusmiersczak of Medina urged the Legislature to continue the exemption.

“This will help all of us,” Kusmiersczak said during the public hearing.

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