Board adopts 50% property-tax exemption for surviving spouses of police officers

The Brookhaven-Comsewogue Board of Education voted to adopt a local resolution authorizing a partial property-tax exemption for surviving spouses of police officers killed in the line of duty.

At the March meeting, Ms. Casale, a board member who opened the public hearing on the measure, summarized the proposed change: "There's exemption to give 50% of assessed value reduction to surviving spouses of police officers." The board then moved and carried a resolution to implement the exemption under the cited Real Property Tax Law provision.

The resolution states the exemption applies to eligible primary residences and, where applicable, to the proportionate interest of tenant-stockholders in cooperative apartments. The board recorded that the measure takes effect immediately and will apply to assessment rolls prepared on the basis of taxable status dates occurring on or after March 1, 2026. The district clerk was directed to transmit a certified copy of the resolution to the town assessor.

The board offered no additional amendments or roll-call tallies on the record beyond the chair's call for the motion, a second, and the voice vote that carried the item. The meeting record shows the motion was moved, seconded and approved with the board answering "Aye."