Babylon grants tax exemptions to spouses of fallen police and some active military personnel

The Babylon Town Board has approved two new laws that grant property tax exemptions to spouses of police officers killed in the line of duty and to members of the military in combat zones.

The five-member board voted unanimously Wednesday afternoon to green-light the new legislation while also setting a hearing date for a proposed law that would provide an exemption for permanently disabled veterans. The vote occurred after a public hearing on the tax breaks during which there were no speakers.

The surviving-spouse exemption states that any property owned by a surviving spouse of a police officer killed in the line of duty and "constituting the primary residence of such surviving spouse" will be exempt "to the extent of 50% of the assessed valuation" of the property.

The active-military tax break applies to any property in the town owned by an active military service member whose "military duty station is within New York State and who at any time during the taxable year performed active duty in a combat zone."

Those military members are eligible for an exemption for the "extent of 25% of the assessed value of such property," but only up to $20,000. In addition, only those who are not already receiving a veteran exemption can qualify, town officials said.

Both of the exemptions passed by the town board were written by the state and signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Dec. 19, with towns given the option to enact them. Applications for the tax breaks must be submitted by March 1 and owners will have to refile each year, said Town Assessor Matt Cronin.

The board also set a public hearing on another proposed exemption signed into law by the state, this one a full exemption for veterans who were honorably discharged and are permanently disabled with a qualifying condition as defined under the state's Veterans’ Services Law.

To qualify the veteran has to be rated 100% disabled and unemployable by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The proposed law also states that the veteran must be eligible for monetary assistance from the federal government, or has received such assistance, to get or modify housing with required special features because of the veteran's disability. 

The hearing will take place Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. at Town Hall in Lindenhurst.

By Denise M. Bonilla

denise.bonilla@newsday.comdenisebonilla

Denise Bonilla has worked at Newsday since 2003 and covers the Town of Babylon, including the villages of Lindenhurst and Amityville.