(MINEOLA, N.Y.) – During the Monday, Feb. 6 committee meetings of the Nassau County Legislature, lawmakers voted unanimously to advance a Minority Caucus-spearheaded proposal that will ensure Nassau County’s volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers are eligible to receive the maximum property tax exemption allowable under a recently amended state law.
Under the proposal filed by Nassau County Legislature Minority Leader Kevan M. Abraams (D - Freeport) and his Minority Caucus colleagues on Friday, Jan. 20, Nassau County would opt into a state law, enacted in December 2022, that allows volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers to apply for up to a 10-percent exemption on the assessed value of their property (exclusive of special assessments) after completing two years of service. The previous eligibility threshold was five years of service.
Days after the Minority Caucus filed its legislative proposal, the Majority delegation re-filed the proposal on Monday, Jan. 23 with all 19 legislators as sponsors, all but guaranteeing its passage. A public hearing and vote to pass the expanded tax exemption for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers is expected during the Monday, Feb. 27 meeting of the full Nassau County Legislature.
“Through their daily demonstrations of bravery and courage, Nassau County’s volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers have earned every expression of support that we can extend to them,” Nassau County Legislature Minority Leader Kevan M. Abrahams (D - Freeport) said. “The members of the Minority Caucus are thrilled that our initiative is moving so swiftly through the Legislature with the unanimous, bipartisan support that our first responders so richly deserve.”