More Towns Consider Increasing Veterans Tax Credit

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(Host) Just as America’s role in Afghanistan is about to change, more and more towns in Vermont are considering the option of giving disabled veterans a special tax break.

About 200 of Vermont’s 251 towns already allow disabled veterans to deduct $40,000 from the assessed value of their homes in order to reduce their property taxes.

$40,000 is the state maximum, and now some of the towns still holding out may boost their exemptions to that level.

Greensboro is one of two towns in Orleans County whose property tax exemption for veterans – at $20,000 – is less than the state maximum.

Greensboro town clerk Valdine Hall says the select board has agreed to go ahead and put the veterans’ item on the next town ballot.

 

(Hall) "After a short discussion, the select board felt that since this is already a regular request and isn’t a new petition, it would not be required and it would go before the voters at next Town Meeting."

(Host) Lou Lertola is a disabled Korean War veteran from South Burlington. He’s made it his mission to travel the state, visiting towns like Greensboro, requesting that they increase property tax exemptions for disabled vets.

With America’s drawdown in Afghanistan, Lertola says the break is more important than ever.

(Lertola) "Most of these people that are paying the price, as is typical in any war, are young. They’re going to be around hopefully for a long time and we’re going to have to pay the price for having put them there."

(Host) Last Town Meeting Day, 31 communities voted to raise the property tax exemption for veterans, though a few did not raise it to the maximum level.

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