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Maltese: Veterans to Benefit from Increased Tax Benefits Under Maltese Plan

Veterans who are homeowners would see a reduction in their property tax assessments under a proposal by Democratic mayoral candidate Salvatore Maltese.

Currently, eligible veterans receive a $6,000 deduction off their property assessments. That amount can increase if the veteran is disabled, on a sliding scale tied to the percentage of disability, with the maximum deduction at $18,000 for a veteran who is totally disabled.

Maltese said he’d increase the amount of the base deduction to $10,000, and to $25,000 for totally disabled veterans. The program would extend to the surviving spouses of deceased veterans, subject to income requirements.

“Veterans provide a solid foundation for our community,” Maltese said. “They have served our country, often in war, and have sacrificed so we can live in a free society. At the very least we can help them by reducing their tax burdens.”

The proposal will have to be approved by the Town Council, but Maltese said he expects it to be a straightforward matter.

“It’s only common sense for the council to vote to help veterans,” he said. “Veterans bring a level of expertise to our community in so many areas and we are better off for having vets among us.”

To qualify for the tax relief program, residents must own and reside in their East Haven home for at least one consecutive year prior to receiving benefits.

In conjunction with his proposals to ease the tax burdens on veterans and seniors, Maltese said he also intends to launch a major drive to help expand local businesses and bring new business to the community.

“Town Hall has been ignoring the economic development needs of our community for far too long,” he said. “We need to expand our business and industry tax base to provide both tax relief and jobs for residents.”