House Okays Vets’ Tax Bill

HARTFORD –– A bill originally co-sponsored by three area legislators that would enable Connecticut municipalities to expand property tax exemptions for wartime veterans and their surviving spouses was unanimously approved by the state House of Representatives this week.

The measure must be approved by the state Senate and signed by Gov John Rowland before it can become law.

The co-sponsors are state representatives Julia B. Wasserman, R-106th District; Bob Godfrey, D-110th district, and Lewis J. Wallace Jr, D-109th District.

Currently municipalities may increase their optional property tax exemption for wartime veterans and their surviving spouses from a maximum of $1,000 to a maximum of $10,000. Under the bill, towns and cities also could authorize an exemption for up to ten percent of the assessed value of the eligible veteran’s property.

The bill would increase the income limits for single veterans and single surviving spouses eligible for the property tax exemption from a maximum of $16,200 to an amount up to $41,200. For married veterans, the income limit could be increased from the current maximum of $20,000 to $45,000.

“This bill will not impose a new mandate on Connecticut’s towns and cities,” Rep Wasserman said. “It simply allows a town’s legislative body –– town council or board of selectmen –– to expand the number of veterans eligible for the optional exemption and increase the amount of the exemption –– but only if they want to.

“Thousands of Connecticut veterans who served during the Iraq War and who will qualify for the property tax exemption will be coming home in the months ahead and many towns may want to show their thanks for the sacrifices local veterans made by voting to make this additional exemption available to more of them,” Rep Wasserman, of Newtown, said.