Cold War Veterans Blog

Village of Mineola Enacts Cold War Vets Exemption

From the : Mineola American

Veterans Must File By the December 31 Deadline

The Village of Mineola Board of Trustees enacted a new tax exemption for Cold War veterans after a public hearing held on Wednesday evening, Dec. 17.

The exemption provides a basic property tax exemption for the village tax of 15 percent of the assessed value of a property with a maximum reduction of $12,000.

The law also provides an additional exemption to disabled veterans equal to one-half of their service-connected disability ratings. The basic exemption is good for 10 years, but there is no time limit for the disabled portion of the exemption. The exemption only applies to a primary residence.

In order to be eligible for the exemption for the 2009-2010 village tax year, a qualified veteran must make application to the Village of Mineola by next week, December 31, 2008. Application forms are available at Mineola Village Hall, located at 155 Washington Avenue in Mineola.

The veteran must show a discharge or release from the U.S. Armed Forces under honorable conditions and that service was during the Cold War period. The Cold War period covers the time from September 2, 1945 to December 26, 1991. If a Cold War veteran already receives a veterans' tax exemption, this new exemption will not be available.

Application for the exemption must be made each year by Jan. 1, meaning Cold War veterans have a week to file for next year's exemption.

"The board of trustees and I have the highest respect for and gratitude to those men and women who served in our Armed Forces. They deserve this benefit as a sign of our appreciation for what they have given to our nation," said Mineola Mayor Jack M. Martins.