Herricks Board of Education approves four property tax exemptions under new state resolutions

Education Herricks Board of Education approves four property tax exemptions under new state resolutions By Nicholas Gordon … Comments Posted on November 9, 2026 The Herricks Board of Education listened to community members during public comment at the board’s meeting on Thursday, Nov. 5 (Screenshot from the Herricks Board of Education livestream) The Herricks Board of Education approved four new or amended property tax exemptions pertaining to senior citizens, disabled veterans, surviving spouses of volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers, and surviving spouses of police officers killed in the line of duty at its meeting on Thursday, Nov. 5. Following recent changes to New York State law, Nassau County has opted in to all four exemptions. At the board’s public hearing, Assistant Superintendent for Business Lisa Rutkoske outlined the exemptions as follows. Recent legislation allows local governments to adjust the income threshold for seniors who qualify for the property tax exemption. “This exemption would mean a lot to me and other combat vets,” a resident identified himself as a combat veteran of the Vietnam War who is 100% disabled and lives in Williston Park told the board. Under a resolution passed in 2023, the board had approved an exemption of up to 50% for seniors meeting a specified income threshold. Under the new resolution, the exemption will increase to up to 65% with a lower income threshold. The second exemption would provide a 100% property tax exemption for disabled veterans who have been honorably discharged and whose disabilities are service-related. This exemption also extends to their surviving spouses. The third exemption, a new one for the county, allows local governments, including school districts, to opt in to an exemption of up to 50% of the assessed value of the primary residence of a surviving spouse of a volunteer firefighter and ambulance worker who served between two and five years and was killed in the line of duty. The fourth tax exemption mirrors the third but applies to eligible surviving spouses of police officers killed in the line of duty. The board does not yet know how many property owners may qualify for the amended and new tax exemptions, Rutkoske said. Another resident who identified herself as “a citizen of Williston Park, a mother of two kids in the Herricks school district, and the wife of a disabled veteran” took the mic to say that the exemption would be “a tangible way to show support for the troops.” “There is not a large number of disabled veterans living here in Herricks compared with the general population,” the woman said. “Less than 1% of all Americans serve in the military, and a fraction of that are granted disability status afterwards, so the financial impact of this exemption would be miniscule to the overall budget but it would make a huge difference in the lives of military families living here.” Board members thanked both residents for their sacrifice and service before approving all four tax exemptions. The exemptions will take effect with the 2027-2028 tax bill. About the Author All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines . Schneps Media does not endorse the views shared by readers in our comment sections.