Carthage to continue tax exemption for WWII veterans

By ELAINE M. AVALLONE
JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

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CARTHAGE — Despite objections from a military veteran of later years, the village Board of Trustees decided to continue to give resident World War II veterans some tax relief.

Donald Foster told the board during the public hearing Monday that if the exemption is given to some veterans it should be available to veterans from other wars as well.

Village President G. Wayne McIlroy said the exemption had been on the books for a number of years, dating back to his knowledge prior to the 1970s. He said Assessor Robert B. Ball had questioned whether the law was still in force, which is why it was brought before the public again.

“We had the same feeling — should we give the exemption to more? If we did we would have to raise taxes,” Mr. McIlroy said. “It’s getting to the point where there are only about 13 left — it’s a dying thing.”

The exemption from real property taxes for certain veterans pursuant to Section 458 of the Real Property Tax Law applies to honorably discharged veterans who served during armed conflict between Dec. 7, 1941, and Aug. 15, 1945.

Trustees Michael F. Astafan and Linda R. Smith-Spencer abstained from voting on the matter. Mr. Astafan said he did not want it construed that he had a conflict of interest since his late father had been a World War II veteran and had received the exemption.

The three remaining board members agreed to continue the exemption.

In other business, Village Attorney Mark G. Gebo told the board that the State Environmental Facilities Corp. wanted to refinance the outstanding $483,000 balance from the construction of the water filtration plant at a lesser interest rate.

The board authorized Clerk-Treasurer Kristy L. O’Shaughnessy to sign the necessary documents for refinancing.