Arkwright to pursue tax exemption for veterans
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ARKWRIGHT -- The Town of Arkwright is moving forward with a way to honor its veterans. In the coming months, the Board will be presented with a local law to offer a tax exemption to military veterans.
Supervisor Brian McAvoy said he was asked by a resident why the Town did not offer a tax exemption to veterans, and he did not have a good answer why not. When the Town last evaluated the idea, there was a lack of clarity as to what it would mean for the Town.
Since that time, the Town received information from Assessor Jeanne Ebersole that helped the Board come to a decision. McAvoy initially was hesitant to commit to a tax exemption for veterans because he did not want to be "picking and choosing" which types of service qualified for the exemption.
Three levels of exemptions can be made available if a municipality so chooses, including disabled veterans, combat veterans, and "Cold War Veterans", applying to all unnamed wars. Each exemption is capped at a certain amount, then equalized.
"Every veteran can get an exemption, which is a good thing," McAvoy said.
McAvoy stated that the amount of money the tax exemptions might save veterans will likely not be significant. He said it could end up being more of a "ceremonial" gesture than a major benefit, but that any exemption is worth pursuing.
"Even though it's not life changing money, by any means, it's probably the right thing to do," McAvoy said.
Town Councilman Larry Ball, a U.S. Army veteran, said regardless of the amount, it is the principle of the decision that matters.
"I spent three years of my life not doing what I wanted to do," Ball said. "People who are not veterans, you had your lives. You could live them the way you wanted. I was told I had to put on a green uniform."
Ball said during his active service, which began in 1969, he made $87 a month. "You don't start building your life on $87 a month," he said.
Instead of shifting the additional tax burden to the remaining residents of the town, McAvoy stated that there is enough money in the reserve accounts to cover the difference. McAvoy wants to use the Town's existing funds and revenue streams, such as the wind turbine revenue, to account for the impact of any veterans tax exemptions.
If approved by the Board, the exemptions would be available for veterans in the town to apply for until March. The exemptions would take effect in 2028.
Also of note, the Town Board issued a resolution of support for the New York Association of Towns Bill of Rights. The Town Board also authorized McAvoy to request that properties owned by the Town be removed from the Agricultural District.
The Town Clerk's Office collected $858 in the month of June, with $827.50 turned over to the Town and the rest turned over to the State. The revenue stemmed from six dog licenses, one marriage license, 20 death certificates and copies issued, and one cemetery plot sold. One building permit was issued in the month, as well, for a project estimated at $49,000.
A public hearing regarding the adoption of the 2025 Building Code Law will be scheduled in the near future. A budget modification and an interfund transfer were also approved at the meeting. The Town is also evaluating its options for dog control facility upgrades with new mandates in place from the State.
The next meeting of the Arkwright Town Board will be held on Monday, Aug. 10 at 6:30 p.m.