Op-Ed: Veteran community very much appreciated in Niagara County

Guest Editorial by Niagara County Legislator Irene Myers

As we approach Veterans Day on Nov. 11, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of the men and women who stepped forward to defend the freedoms that, all too often, we take for granted.

As has been often said, freedom is not free and the cost is paid for with the sacrifices of those who have served and continue to serve in armed forces. We owe a debt of gratitude to these folk, and as Niagara County legislator, I believe we need to take concrete steps to recognize their service.

Niagara County has a proud tradition of honoring our veterans. In 2019, Niagara County became a Purple Heart County and maintains an official Book of Honor, on display in the rotunda of the Niagara County Courthouse of all known residents who have received a Purple Heart. The book currently contains more than 400 names. In 2023, the county dedicated a Purple Heart monument and courtyard at the courthouse to honor these heroes. If you have not seen the monument, I highly encourage you to do so.

The Niagara County Clerk’s Office also runs the “Thank A Vet,” which entitles veterans to discounts on the purchase of goods and services at more than 500 participating businesses throughout Niagara County. The eligibility guidelines require participants to be Niagara County residents and present official government photo identification (i.e., driver’s license or non-driver ID card); to have been honorably discharged from any branch of the U.S. armed forces; and to have official discharge papers (DD-214) on file in the Niagara County Clerk’s Office. If DD-214 is not on file, it must be presented for filing prior to issuance of discount card. Discount cards are issued from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at the Niagara County Clerk’s Office, 175 Hawley St., Lockport. Those with questions can call the VSA at 716-438-4090.

Another one of the benefits we provide to veterans is a county property tax reduction. The veterans’ tax exemption was created in state law and provides a reduction on assessed value to lower property tax bills for vets at three different levels: a veteran who served during wartime; a veteran injured in combat; and a veteran who suffered a disability through combat. Each level had a maximum cap.

Earlier this year, a veteran contacted me and mentioned how the exemption caps had not been changed in years and, as housing values have significantly increased, the veterans’ exemption was not nearly the benefit it used to be. After looking into it, I discovered the caps had not been raised in more than a decade. Working with the county’s Real Property Office, we put together a plan to address this.

Last month, a local law was passed unanimously by the legislature to increase the caps. For wartime, non-combat veterans, the cap increases from $18,000 to $30,000; combat veterans will increase from $30,000 to $50,000; a disabled veteran will receive that $50,000 exemption, plus a percentage of his or her disability capping at $100,000. While this is a significant savings for veterans, the impact on all taxpayers is very minimal, approximately 3 cents per thousand of assessed value.

These programs and initiatives are a small way to acknowledge those who served our country. We want our veteran community to always know they are very much appreciated.