POUGHKEEPSIE – The Dutchess County Legislature adopted unanimously a bipartisan local law that will allow for a 10 percent county property tax exemption for volunteer firefighters and ambulance service members at their monthly session on Tuesday night.
The measure will now go to the county executive for consideration.
“I know first-hand the benefit that having a volunteer fire department in your community has, and how instrumental the members that serve on it are,” said Chairman Gregg Pulver. “I am honored to have supported this local law and to have the opportunity to show these brave men and women who volunteer as a firefighter or ambulance service member just how grateful we are here at the Dutchess County Legislature.”
Legislator Tony D’Aquanni noted the volunteers “save the tax dollars millions of dollars, and offer so much back to our municipalities, and any effort we can to remind them that they have a grateful community behind them should be taken advantage of.”
The local law will benefit volunteer members who have served a minimum of three years and will be offered for each year of active service thereafter. Members must live in the city, town or village within the service area of the incorporated fire company, fire department, or voluntary ambulance. Individuals who actively served for a total of 20 years would be offered the exemption for the remainder of their life as long as their primary residence remains within Dutchess County.
This legislation comes after the state recently signed into law a bill that allows all local governments with the option to provide a property tax exemption to those groups. However, under current state tax law, volunteer members cannot receive both the state income tax credit of $200 and the county property tax exemption, despite the incentives being from different levels of government.
Last month, the legislature sent a letter to state representatives encouraging them to rectify this oversight through the state budget. More information on this effort can be found here.
The county property tax exemption will be handled by the local assessor’s office in each municipality, and questions should be directed directly to their office. To learn more, individuals can call the Dutchess County Legislature at 845-486-2100 or email CountyLegislature@dutchessny.gov
