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Reminder to Volunteer Firefighters and Ambulance Workers
To The Editor:
We are so fortunate to have volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers in our communities. They give so unselfishly of their time and talents to protect our homes and business and the health of our families.
For many years, these most important volunteers have received real property tax exemptions. In 2006, NYS adopted a law that provides volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers with a $200 personal tax credit as an alternative to the property tax exemption. This applies to renters as well as homeowners.
Because deadlines for tax exemptions and dates for filing income taxes are different, we worked to get state legislation passed that would clarify this confusion. However, before December 31, 2007, volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers must submit a letter to their local assessors stating that they no longer wish to receive a real property tax exemption but instead are choosing to take a personal income tax credit. The choice is theirs to make.
When you think of the hours these volunteers spend on our behalf responding to every emergency, at any time of day and night and on every holiday, and that they keep our taxes lower too, this is only a small way to acknowledge their efforts.
Sandra R. Galef
Chair NY State Assembly Committee on Real
Property Taxation
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