Town Talks Tax Exemptions

NORTH EAST — Assessor Jon Barrett has been a very busy man, dealing with a myriad of issues in his office, ranging from the town’s recent revaluation history to the current exemption applications that are coming into his office.

"It’s been pretty busy these days," he told the Town Board Feb. 8. "A lot of exemptions are coming in, and they need to be in by the first of March. Ag exemptions, senior exemptions, STAR exemptions, all of them. I’m trying to go through them all and make sure I’ve got what I need."

Barrett said that people’s first response to the extra work they have to do to apply for an exemption might be to be "upset," but said they return and "calm down."

"I think it’s very good," he said of the overall process.

Town Supervisor Dave Sherman said that he would suggest to people who have not done so already to avail themselves of Barrett’s office as quickly as possible if they are hoping to get an exemption on their taxes.

As far as senior exemptions go, the Town Board held a public hearing on the matter at last week’s meeting. Nobody from the community rose to speak about the topic so the hearing was closed within a matter of minutes.

At its Jan. 24 meeting the Town Board proposed raising the level of senior citizen tax exemptions by $2,000 on each of the levels, a move that was confirmed by a vote following last week’s hearing. To qualify for the senior exemptions participants must be 65 years old by March 1.

"Since the exemption schedule has a higher income ceiling people may qualify [who hadn’t before] and they should inquire at the assessor’s office to see if they can get the exemptions," Sherman said.

The exemptions start at $26,000 or less — up from the previous $24,000 — which gives seniors a 50 percent exemption on their town property tax. The tiers then range from more than $26,000 all the way up to $34,4000 (which garners a 5 percent exemption). In years past the town stopped giving senior exemptions at 20 percent.

"We wanted to expand the levels," Sherman said. "These are the maximum numbers that are available and the schedule is as large as it can be."

The motion to approve the senior citizen exemptions was unanimously approved.

As far as other exemptions go, Sherman added that many people don’t realize they’re eligible for exemptions, and that they should check with the assessor’s office to find out whether they are, and how to proceed if they are.

In the meanwhile the town remains committed to keeping the exemptions as up to date as possible, according to the supervisor.

"It provides relief to individual taxpayers to help equalize some of the load and therefore it would be appropriate for them to take the exemptions so they’re paying a fair share of their tax."

For the tax bills that are now coming out it is too late to apply for any exemptions. To have one’s taxable value reduced on the 2007 roll, however, taxpayers must get their exemption applications in by March 1.