City OKs tax breaks for seniors, veterans
By MICHAEL ANICH/The Leader-HeraldJOHNSTOWN - Two local laws affecting some city taxpayers - veterans and senior citizens - were adopted Monday night by the Common Council at City Hall.
Public hearings on the laws were conducted Oct. 20 without comment, and the council passed them without comment as well.
The first local law establishes a real property tax exemption for Cold War veterans. The city's action follows Fulton County government action taken earlier this year for Cold War veterans, considered to be those who served on active duty from Sept. 2, 1945, to Dec. 26, 1991.
The action allows a 15 percent exemption on taxed property value. It is the same percentage that traditional wartime veterans receive.
The council also increased the maximum income for senior citizens property tax exemption for those 65 and older. In 1997, the maximum eligibility was raised to $16,999, where it has been until now. Council action now raises that level to $19,999. Seniors with annual income up to $14,300 would be eligible for a 50 percent exemption. Seniors with annual income between $14,301 and $19,999 would be eligible for a 20 percent exemption.
In other business, the council approved a five-year renewal with the Fulton County Department of Solid Waste. The contract is for utilization of the transfer station starting Jan. 1 and running through Dec. 31, 2013.
The council approved a $1,200 low bid from Wilbur Smith Associates of Latham for a structural evaluation for the North Perry Street Bridge. The company also will make repair recommendations. Three proposals were received.
"We basically need someone to look at it and make recommendations on how we can repair it," City Engineer Charles Kortz said.
The bridge this fall was red-flagged by the state Department of Transportation for repair.
Michael Anich can be reached by e-mail at johnstown@leaderherald.com
