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Peekskill Letter: Borgia Praises Veterans Tax Exemption

PEEKSKILL, N.Y. -- The Peekskill Daily Voice accepts original, signed letters to the editor. Send your letter to peekskill@dailyvoice.com.

Westchester County Legislator Catherine Borgia recently applauded the passage of the Alternative Veterans’ Tax Exemption.

Westchester County Legislator Catherine Borgia recently applauded the passage of the Alternative Veterans’ Tax Exemption.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Catherine Borgia

Dear Editor:

I commend the Ossining Free Union and Peekskill City School Districts for the passage of the Alternative Veterans’ Tax Exemption on school taxes, and I thank them for their support and hard work to help pass this important measure.

This exemption allows for combat veterans to be eligible for up to a 15 percent savings on their local school taxes.

Beginning in 2014, the Alternative Veterans’ Exemption, authorized by Real Property Tax Law Section 458-a, was opened up to allow school districts to offer the exemption in addition to municipalities offering it on local property taxes.

Currently this exemption is available in over 95 percent of the county, city, town, and village taxing jurisdictions all across our state. Included in this large percentage of communities is Westchester County.

This exemption is so important because we must serve veterans in every way we can upon their return home. I urge the other school districts to follow the lead of Ossining and Peekskill and take up this measure.

This savings of up to 15 percent of a veteran’s school tax bill is a small token of appreciation that all those who have served our nation and now live in our community deserve. It would help those who have sacrificed so much and have sent their children to our schools.

Once again, I commend the work of the Ossining Free Union and Peekskill City School Districts on the passage of the veterans tax exemption for their respective communities and encourage other school districts in Westchester County to do the same.

Catherine Borgia

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