At its recent November meeting, the Great Neck School Board deferred action on school tax relief for veterans.
The members of the board wrestled with the issue of transferring recovery of reduced tax revenues to non-veteran Great Neck taxpayers.
The board indicated that it would make its decision at the next December board meeting.
In 2013, the New York State Legislature passed and the governor sign legislation permitting the school districts to afford school tax relief for veterans who served during carefully defined periods of war.
As much as a 25 percent reduction for those who served in combat areas, 15 percent for service in non-combat areas. As significant number of school districts located on the “Gold Coast” adopted these tax-relief provisions that benefit veterans. Many of these districts have income and wealth profiles that are comparable to Great Neck’s.
Some districts have estimated that the additional tax expense for the “average” non-veterans homeowner would range from as low as $20 per year to slightly more than $100 per year.
When you examine how “assessed value” of homes in the Great Neck villages has increased in recent years – mine increased $25,000 from 2014 to 2015 – the veterans tax transfer does not seem onerous. And unstinting support of school budgets over the years has been an integral reason for increasing home values.
Also, I would suggest that tax-exempt entities of which there are many might offer to make some voluntary payment to the Great Neck School District in lieu of taxes.
Veterans’ service made it possible for these entities to exist and continue to grow!
Urge the school board to approve veteran school tax relief for now.
Gerald Peretsman
Great Neck
