Politics & Government

Veterans May Receive Additional Exemptions

Applause greets Montville Town Council's vote to allow up to $10,000 in property-tax exemptions for veterans who qualify

The audience applauded the Montville Town Council in its most recent meeting, when the council voted to offer qualifying veterans and their spouses additional tax-property relief.

The vote was unanimous in favor of the proposal. Speaking as a citizen, during the comment period, Councilor Dana McFee had broached the idea of implementing the exemption over four years, because of the financial state of the town.

"I have the utmost respect for veterans and what they’ve done for us," McFee said. "This proposal couln’t have come at a worse time. If the mayor’s budget results in one teacher being laid off, we’d be trading a teacher for a tax exemption.

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"Then again," he continued, "how do you vote against something that benefits our country?"

He suggested phasing the exemption in, over a four-year period.

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Wills Pike spoke during the comment period as well.

"We get to stand here today, inside this building, outside of this building, and every day of our lives, say what we want, how we want, with very few restrictions," he said. "I think this is essential that this gets passed.

"The financial situation of the town is due to a series of administrations, mayors who have made very poor choices, town councils who have made very poor choices... The impact is minimal here."

He continued, in response to McFee, saying "Schools are designed to teach people, not to be a place to get a job.

"I’m very much in support of this ordinance. It’s a very small debt to benefit the veterans that live in this town."

Council member Rosetta Jones, speaking as a citizen, said that while she was totally in support of the exemption, she would like to see it start slowly, and would like to make sure that the veteran and surviving spouse had been married for a number of years before the spouse became eligible to receive the benefit.

Joe Catillo, a Vietnam veteran, is 68. He was very much in favor of the exemption.

"Any bit helps," he said.

"Most of us (veterans) are on fixed incomes," Catillo said. "And the governor has taxed us into oblivion..."

Connecticut state law "provides a basic $1,000 property tax exemption for certain honorably discharged veterans who actively served at least 90 days during war time, or their survivors. State law also provides an additional exemption for veterans and disabled veterans who are eligible for the basic exemption and who can meet certain income limits," according to the Office of Policy Management.

In addition to the state amount, the town already offers $1,500 to honorably discharged veterans who served during a time of conflict. To find out more about exemptions, eligibility and the application process, click here to reach the tax assessor's page of the Montville town website.

To receive the additional exemption, veterans must visit the town assessor's office and fill out an application. You will need to bring your and your spouse's federal income tax return, or evidence of income.

State law says that to be eligible, a veteran must have an income of $14,000 or less, or a joint income of $16,000 or less. The exemption will be applied to the assessed value of the veteran's property.


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