Dutchess lawmakers propose increase to county property tax exemptions

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POUGHKEEPSIE – Members of the Dutchess County Legislature have introduced local laws that would raise the income limits on two county property tax exemptions – the Senior Citizens Exemption and Persons with Disabilities Exemption.

Current County Law, for both the Senior Citizens Exemption and Persons with Disabilities Exemption, states that the maximum annual income to receive a 50 percent County Assessed Value Exemption is $29,000, but under the proposed local law the income level would be raised to $35,000 for the 2025 tax bill and to $37,000 for the 2026 tax bill.

The sliding scales for both exemptions would be adjusted appropriately, incrementally the exemption would decrease by five percent until reaching a homeowner reached $43,400 at which point they would no longer be eligible.

“Inflation and the rising cost of living has hurt all of us across our communities, no one has felt it harder than our seniors and people with disabilities living on a fixed income,” said Legislature Chairman Gregg Pulver. “Dutchess County has a proven record of delivering relief to its residents, and this proposal is no different. The Republican Caucus is committed to putting more money in the pockets of our residents unlike New York State whose solution is to increase taxes across the board.”

Last year, Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law legislation that would raise the maximum income property owners over the age of 65 and people with disabilities would be able to earn in order to receive the County Property Tax Exemption, allowing municipalities to amend their local laws to also reflect the increase.

The proposed local law will be introduced to the Legislature at the February board meeting on February 14 and will be added to the agenda for the March legislative meeting.

The Local Law will first be considered and voted on at the Government Services & Administration Committee on March 9.




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