Disabled Veterans Who Lose Homes To Natural Disasters Should Still Get Property Tax Exemption

Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove plan to introduce legislation that will continue the tax-exempt status of property owned by 100 percent disabled veterans whose homes have been destroyed by floods or storms.

Currently, totally disabled veterans can claim a full local property tax exemption on their homes and property. But when the dwelling becomes unusable due to a storm or flood, the property tax exemption is removed, since the owner no longer lives in the home.

““This legislation is in direct response to incidents in which the homes of 100 percent disabled veterans were destroyed by Superstorm Sandy,” according to a press release from the 9th District legislative office. “Certainly, these veterans and their families should not have a disruption in the property tax relief afforded to them in light of the sacrifices endured in their service to our country.

The proposed bill would give disabled veterans four years to make their homes habitable again.

“Adding to the need for corrective action, this anomaly in State law disproportionately impacted such veterans who were prevented from returning to their homes for longer periods of time, usually due to extensive damage,” the three said in the statement. ”This issue takes on greater significance for us as our Legislative District was among the hardest hit by Sandy and veterans constitute a significant segment of our constituency.”

Members of the 9th District Delegation serve on both the Senate and Assembly Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committees. In keeping with the principle of State Mandate – State Pay, the Delegation has introduced legislation that would require the State to annually reimburse each municipality which must cover the costs/loss of revenue in affording disabled veterans with a total exemption from property taxation.