Veteran's Exemption

Sayville Board of Education

APPROVED the Veterans’ Exemption

On Thursday, January 8, 2015, a special Public Hearing was held to explain the Veterans’ Exemption and the resulting “tax shift” to the non-exempt homestead property owners. The Public Hearing was well-attended by Veterans in the Sayville community who listened as Assistant Superintendent John Belmonte thoroughly outlined the exemption details to the Sayville Board of Education.  (See the attached pdf illustrations for this information.)

• Using the 2014-15 data provided by the Assessor’s Office, there are currently a total of 773 Alternative & Eligible Funds Veterans within the District;
• Adopting the State Basic Max Level would shift approximately $1,690,000 in taxable properties – to exempt properties;   A
• A homeowner would see an increase of approximately $0.14 per $100 of assessed value;
• A homeowner with an average assessed home of $40,000 would see an increase of approximately $56 per year.*

 *  $56/year is the maximum shift to the tax rate, based on all 773. In all likelihood, the actual shift to other nonveteran taxpayers will be less than the $56 year. This is due to the fact that all identified properties may not be eligible for the new alternative exemptions.

During this Hearing, the Board listened to the facts, discussed their concerns, and opened up the public session for Veterans and non-veterans to speak. All community members who spoke were in favor of adopting the Exemption.

While the Sayville Board members were also in favor of giving back to the Veterans for their service and sacrifice, several members made statements, for the record, that it was unfair of the Federal and State to shift this responsibility into the jurisdiction of Education and school districts. Even so, the Board of Education voted to adopt the Statutory Basic Maximums, as defined by Real Property Tax Law Section 458-a, subdivision 2, paragraphs (a), (b) and (c).

This means that those Veterans who are determined as eligible by the Local Tax Assessors—eligibility is not made by Sayville School District—will receive exemptions, effective for the 2015-2016 school year, according to criteria outlined in the Veterans Exemption Q &A  publication provided by the state (also attached).

Now that Board of Education has adopted it, Sayville School District has notified the Town of Islip Assessor’s Office, who  will notify veterans accordingly.

Veterans who have questions about property tax relief programs should contact the Town of Islip Assessor’s Office at (631) 224-5585.