Ulster County to consider combat-zone service property-tax exemption at Aug. 18 hearing

The Rules, Laws, and Government Services Committee on July 9 set a public hearing for Aug. 18, 2026 to consider proposed Local Law No. 14 (2026), which would opt Ulster County into the combat zone service exemption authorized by the Real Property Tax Law citation read in the meeting.

Deputy County Executive Amenta described the exemption as "relatively new," noting it is aimed at service members who are serving in a designated combat zone and that the benefit is typically for one year so that "when someone comes home, they can then apply for the veteran's exemption." Amenta said eligibility is determined by deployment to a defined combat zone and cited the Persian Gulf and portions of the Middle East as examples; he said areas such as Hawaii would not qualify.

Legislator Murray asked for an estimate of how many people might be eligible; Amenta said the number fluctuates annually and that this year could see a higher number of eligible individuals but "it would definitely not be in the thousands," adding it would likely be in the dozens rather than hundreds. Legislator Nolan moved to set the hearing; Legislator Peters seconded. The committee approved the motion unanimously.

The hearing will let residents and municipalities comment on whether to opt into the exemption locally.