Dear Resident,
I am pleased to report that our ongoing efforts to increase the senior citizen tax exemption bracket for eligible Nassau County residents is finally becoming a reality.
This hard-fought battle first started over five years ago when a bill to grant Nassau seniors and individuals with disabilities the same income eligibility levels as those in NYC was first proposed and went nowhere in the state legislature.
A revised version of this legislation passed the State Senate and State Assembly earlier this year but had been languishing on the desk of Governor Hochul for months. Recently, I joined my colleagues in the Legislative Majority along with other elected officials to demand that Governor Hochul sign the legislation. Finally, on August 8th the Governor signed the bill. On Wednesday, I was part of a unanimous vote by the Nassau County Legislature to opt into the measure, which will now be sent to County Executive Bruce Blakeman for his signature.
The new law will provide a property tax assessment reduction for seniors and people with disabilities who earn less than $50,000 and up to $58,399 per year, putting Nassau County residents on par with those in NYC. Previously, the income cap levels to receive a property tax reduction had been set more than $20,000 lower.
With inflation raising prices across the board those on a fixed income are being hit particularly hard. This legislation will help provide meaningful financial relief to those among our senior and disabled population who need it most.
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