NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING - TOWN OF RAMAPO INTRODUCTORY LOCAL LAW LOCAL LAW NO. ____-2026 VETERANS TAX EXEMPTION AMENDMENTS
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Town Board of the Town of Ramapo, Rockland County, New York, will meet on November 18, 2026, at 7:01 o'clock P.M., Prevailing Time, at the Town Hall located at 237 Route 59, Suffern, New York 10901, for the purpose of conducting a public hearing in relation to the following proposed local law:
TOWN OF RAMAPO
INTRODUCTORY LOCAL LAW
LOCAL LAW NO. ____-2026
VETERANS TAX EXEMPTION AMENDMENTS
BE IT ENACTED by the Town Board of the Town of Ramapo, County of Rockland, State of New York, as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 253, Article XVIII titled “Veterans Tax Exemption – 100% Service Connected Disability,” of the Code of the Town of Ramapo is amended as follows:
§253-60. Legislative intent. State Real Property Tax Law §458-a authorizes a municipality to adopt a local law to include the primary residence of any seriously disabled veteran. The intent of this local law is to allow such property tax exemption upon application made by a seriously disabled veteran in accordance with Real Property Tax Law §458-a.
§253-61. Qualification for Exemption. The primary residence of any seriously disabled veteran shall be fully exempt from taxation and special district charges, assessments and special ad valorem levies, provided that such veteran meets all other requirements of this section and such veteran has met at least one of the criteria set forth in paragraph (a) of this subdivision and the criterion set forth in paragraph (b) of this subdivision. To be eligible for such exemption, a veteran:
(a)(i) must have been discharged or released from active military, naval, space or air service, including army and air national guard services performed pursuant to federal orders under title 10 of the United States code, under honorable conditions; or
(ii) must have a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the veterans’ services law, and must have received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service; or
(iii) must be a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the veterans’ services law, and must have received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service; and
(b) must be considered by the United States department of veterans affairs to be permanently and totally disabled as a result of military service, as evidenced by a letter, official form, or other documents sent to such veteran from such department that specifically states such veteran is considered to be permanently and totally disabled as a result of such service.
(c) In no case shall the taxable assessed value of the property of a qualifying veteran be reduced below zero. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to require or authorize the discontinuance of any exemption granted pursuant to subdivision three of section four hundred fifty-eight of this title.
(d) Each county, city, town, village or school district that adopts a local law or resolution for the exemption authorized by this subdivision shall notify the department of veterans’ services within thirty days of such adoption; provided, however, that a failure to notify the department of veterans’ services within thirty days shall not render such local law or resolution ineffective. The department of veterans’ services shall compile and maintain a publicly available records of each such county, city, town, village or school district that has adopted such exemption.
Section 2. This local law shall take effect immediately and shall apply to assessment rolls based on taxable status dates occurring on or after October 1, 2026.
At said public hearing the Town Board will hear all persons interested in the subject matter thereof.
TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that procedures for attending the public hearing by Zoom (for viewing purposes only) will be timely posted on the Town website at www.ramapo.gov.
The Town of Ramapo will make every effort to assure that the hearing is accessible to persons with disabilities. Anyone requiring special assistance and/or reasonable accommodations should contact the Town Clerk.
Dated: Suffern, New York,
October 29, 2026
BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF RAMAPO, ROCKLAND COUNTY, NEW YORK