Res. No. 893

Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to introduce and pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation extending the property tax exemption provisions to veterans who have served in peacetime operations.

By Council Members Gjonaj and Yeger

Whereas, U.S. military men and women have provided a selfless service in defense of this nation;

                     Whereas, In recognition of their service and contributions, the federal and State governments have provided certain benefits to qualifying veterans; and

                     Whereas, In New York State, the law provides property tax exemptions to qualified veterans of the United States armed forces and their families; and

                     Whereas, Exemptions available for veterans include the Eligible Funds Exemption, the Alternative Veterans’ Exemption, and the Cold War Veterans’ Exemption; and

                     Whereas, The Eligible Fund Exemption, as provided in Section 458 of the Real Property Tax Law, is available to those veterans who purchase real property with the proceeds of a pension, bonus, insurance monies (or dividends or refunds on such insurance), or payments received as prisoner of war from the United States government; and

                     Whereas, The Alternative Veterans’ Exemption, as provided in Section 458-a of the Real Property Tax Law, is available to those veterans who served in the active military, naval, or air service during a period of war, or who was a recipient of the armed forces expeditionary medal, navy expeditionary medal, marine corps expeditionary medal, or global war on terrorism expeditionary medal, and who was discharged or released under honorable conditions, or those individuals identified as a Gold Star Parent; and                      

                     Whereas, The Cold War Veterans Exemption, as provided in Section 458-b of the Real Property Tax Law, is available to those veterans who served on active duty in the United States armed forces (other than active duty for training) during the time period of the Cold War, and was discharged or released under honorable conditions; and

                     Whereas, All military service is classified as either wartime or peacetime service; and

                     Whereas, A wartime veteran is defined as an individual who served in the active military forces during a period designed by the Congress as wartime and who was discharged or released under other than dishonorable conditions; and

                     Whereas, Those time periods not designated by Congress as wartime are considered to be peacetime; and

                     Whereas, As of the most recently available data from the American Community Survey and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in 2017, there are approximately 806,827 veterans in New York City with 26 percent of the population representing peacetime veterans; and   

                     Whereas, The current property tax exemptions available to New York City veterans do not extend to those who have served during those periods designated as peacetime service;

Whereas, The Council urges the State to consider veteran equity and to provide a property tax exemption to all veterans residing in New York City, regardless of their type of military service; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to introduce and pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation extending the property tax exemption provisions to veterans who have served in peacetime operations.

SR

LS #8533

March 15, 2019