Putnam Pushes For Emergency Responder Tax Deductions

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — As one of his first acts, Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne is advocating for the adoption of new legislation that will cement a property tax deduction program for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers approved in Albany in December.

The law had been co-sponsored by Byrne and then-fellow Assemblyman Michael Lawler, now the U.S. Representative for Congressional District 17.

Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law A10155A, which standardizes and simplifies the existing tax breaks, allowing all counties across New York State to opt into the program.

The new law allows local governments to offer up to a 10 percent exemption of assessed value to eligible volunteers as well as a number of other options for assisting in recruitment and retention.

"This is government at its best; supporting and giving back to those who do the selfless work of protecting their communities and neighbors," Byrne said in a statement. "I’m proud to have helped work on this legislation while I was an Assemblyman, and I’m even prouder to be able to bring it home to the brave volunteers in Putnam County as their County Executive. I look forward to collaborating with our partners in the County Legislature to provide this tax break, and I thank Governor Hochul for signing our legislation into law."

County lawmakers sound ready to take action.

"This isn’t traditionally thought of as a public safety issue, but it is. Providing this tax deduction is just another incentive in retaining a strong volunteer fire and ambulance corps," Paul Jonke, Chairman of the Putnam County Legislature, said in the statement. "We’re committed to ensuring our volunteer first responders can receive whatever compensation we can give them. I thank County Executive Byrne for his support of this legislation, and for sponsoring the law that made it possible when he was an Assemblyman."

This new law replaces previously enacted legislation by former State Assemblyman Will Stephens Jr. in 2002 that provided a similar tax break. While New York State’s Department of Taxation and Finance allowed the county to offer the tax exemption, the old legislation was rendered obsolete due to the increase in census population of Putnam County.

"Ensuring this tax exemption for volunteer ambulance workers and firefighters becomes law in Putnam County is one of our top priorities this year," said Toni Addonizio, County Legislator and Rules Committee Chair.