Bedford council schedules public hearing on ordinance to raise veteran tax credits

The Town of Bedford Town Council on March 16 introduced Ordinance 2026-02, which would raise optional and "all veteran" property-tax credits from $500 to $750 and increase the total disability veteran credit in phased steps starting in 2026.

Town Manager Rick Sawyer said the optional and all-veteran credits would expand to $750 "over the next three years," and described a phased increase to the disability veteran credit: from $2,500 to $3,000 in 2026, then rising by $1,000 in each of 2027 and 2028. Sawyer said the staff report includes cost-impact estimates and identified a multi-year fiscal effect of about $722,950 that would need to be offset by other revenues or adjustments.

The ordinance was introduced for first reading; the council’s only action at the meeting was to schedule a public hearing on the measure. A councilor moved to set the hearing for April 8, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

The council will hold the ordinance’s second reading during the public hearing, after which members may vote on adoption. The town advised that the staff report and the assessor’s analysis are available online for public review prior to the hearing.