Deadline for Village property tax exemption is Dec. 31

Warwick — Veterans, low-income senior citizens and fire and ambulance volunteers living in the Village of Warwick have until Dec. 31 to file for a partial property tax exemption. This past year, the village board agreed to grant the exemption to volunteer fire fighters and ambulance workers, the same one the town and county implemented previously. The town’s filing deadline is in March. The volunteer exemption is a 10-percent exemption, up to $3,000, off the full assessment of property to the volunteers who qualify. The actual amount of the exemption is far less since properties throughout the town are not assessed at full value. At last year’s equalization rate of 14 percent, the exemption would be about $420, saving about $16 on county and town taxes. Village volunteers who qualify would save about $9 on their village taxes. To qualify for the volunteer exemption, one must be a certified member of the volunteer group for a minimum of five years, own the property, and have it be their primary residence. Those with 20 years of services receive a lifetime exemption. Fire chiefs from throughout the town welcomed the exemption, calling it an incentive to get and keep volunteers in a climate where volunteers are spread very thin. The income requirement for senior citizens changes. Last year, those earning less than $26,900 qualified for the exemption. Anyone interested should call the village hall for more information. Since the volunteer exemption can be taken with either property or income tax, Village of Warwick trustee Eileen Patterson advised checking with your accountant to see where the benefit would best serve you.