Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, center, announces a tax exemption for Cold War-era veterans, which allows them to get the same tax exemption as veterans who served during wartime. He was joined at the press conference by, left to right, Assemblyman Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove); Legislator Judy Bosworth (D-Great Neck); Legislator Wayne Wink (D-Roslyn); Legislator David Denenberg (D-Merrick); Legislator David Mejias (D-Farmingdale); Presiding Officer Diane Yatauro (D-Glen Cove); Legislator Denise Ford (R-Long Beach); and Legislator Roger Corbin (D-Westbury).
Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi announced that Cold War-era veterans in Nassau County are eligible for a property tax exemption of up to 15 percent. Veterans who served more than a year in service from Sept. 2, 1945, to Dec. 26, 1991 may apply for the exemption, which allows Cold War veterans to get the same tax exemption as veterans who served during wartime. It applies to the veterans' un-remarried spouses. Disabled veterans get an additional exemption.
"Although the guns were silent, the threat and potential for national disaster was real. Veterans who served during the Cold War preserved the peace by sacrificing years of their lives to service and being ready to defend us with their lives," said County Executive Suozzi. "It is important that we get the word out to all veterans that whether they served during a time of war or a time of cold war, Nassau County has extended the Veterans Real Tax Exemption. We are grateful to all of our veterans for putting their lives on the line to protect us."
Nassau County Legislator David Denenberg (D-Merrick) sponsored the legislation locally. He said, "I believe that we can never thank our veterans enough for their service. Providing tax relief is the least government can do for those who gave so much to their country. This law provides that the men and women who served during the cold war will be treated as serving during war-time for purposes of this veteran's tax exemption. Having grown up in the late 1960s and 1970s, I remember the anxiety and fears of that war and the battles within that war; in the end it was a 46-year war that the US won because of the valiant service of the men and women of our armed forces." Legislator Denenberg is vice-chair of the Veterans Committee.
Legislator and Vietnam War veteran who served in the U.S. Marine Corps Dennis Dunne (R-Levittown) said, "As a veteran myself, I am so thankful to all of the men and women who served this country during the prime of their lives and prepared to die for this nation. Providing this exemption is one way to exhibit the county's gratitude towards our veterans."
Legislator Dave Mejias (D-Farmingdale) said, "I have a lot of veterans in my district who took an oath to put their lives on the line for this country. This is the least we can do for them."
The Cold War exemption of 15 percent adopted by the Legislature applies to county taxes but not school or special district taxes and is limited to 10 years. Veterans with a service-connected disability can increase the value of the exemption by one half of their disability rating.
Each individual County municipality has the option of deciding whether to grant the Cold War exemption to their veterans. The Cold War is defined as Sept. 2, 1945 to Dec. 26, 1991. Veterans who served during the Korean or Vietnam Wars or who received an expeditionary medal for operations in Lebanon, Grenada or Panama during specified times of conflict are eligible for the Alternative Veterans Exemption. No veteran can receive both a Cold War and a war time tax exemption. The Cold War exemption of 15 percent adopted by the Legislature applies to county taxes but not school or special district taxes and is limited to 10 years. Veterans with a service-connected disability can increase the value of the exemption by one half of their disability rating.
Veterans may contact the Veterans Service Agency at 572-8452 or the Nassau County Assessor's Office at 571-1500 for an application.
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