Dear Resident,
Earlier this week I joined my colleagues in the Legislative Majority along with other elected officials to demand that Governor Hochul sign legislation that would give Nassau County senior citizens near parity with New York City on senior property tax exemptions. This legislation has been sitting on her desk for months!
In 2017, legislation was passed in New York State that increased the senior citizen property tax exemption brackets for New York City senior citizens to $58,399. Nassau County senior citizens, as well as seniors in other parts of the state, were left at the old income limit level of $37,399.00. Obviously, there is a great disparity here! This becomes illogical when you realize that people on the Queens County side of the border can have an income eligibility limit on their exemptions of $58,399, but a senior just a few blocks away in Nassau County is limited to $37,399. That is more than a $20,000 difference for people who live next to each other, but in different zip codes.
Nassau seniors pay some of the highest property taxes and cost of living expenses in the nation. Inflation has further hit seniors on a fixed income particularly hard. The fact that the state mandates an income limit that is $21,000 higher for NYC residents is outrageous. The Governor should sign this legislation immediately to allow Nassau residents to have the same financial benefit that is afforded to New York City residents.
For more information, please see the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/107688205330158/videos/1115697972634654
As always, please feel free to contact me with any thoughts and ideas you may have with respect to the County or on any particular issue that you think I may be able to assist you with. You may contact me at (516) 571-6214 or by email at LSchaefer@NassauCountyNY.gov .
Sincerely,
Laura M. Schaefer
Legislator, District 14