Orleans votes to keep tax exemption for Cold War veterans
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature on Wednesday voted to continue a tax exemption for Cold War veterans. The exemption was due to expire on March 31, 2018, but no longer has an expiration date.
The county enacted the exemption 10 years ago and it was 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 last month, 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.
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.
