Spouses of fallen hero cops receive hefty tax break in these Long Island towns
The spouses of fallen police officers in three Long Island towns will soon receive significant property tax relief under newly adopted local legislation.
The town boards in Brookhaven, Islip and Huntington voted last week to approve a property tax break for the surviving spouses of officers who died in the line of duty. The action follows a recently passed New York State law that allows towns, school districts and other taxing entities to reduce property taxes by 50% for eligible residents.
Huntington expanded the benefit further, extending the tax break to the widowed spouses of firefighters and ambulance workers killed while serving, as well as to residents currently on active military duty in a combat zone.
The reduction applies only to the town portion of a property owner’s tax bill and covers primary residences. Recipients will still be responsible for taxes levied by other entities, such as school districts and fire departments, unless those bodies pass similar measures.
“On behalf of myself and all the survivors … we thank you. We really thank you,” Michelle Holfester told the Brookhaven Town Board before its vote.
Her husband, William Holfester, a detective with the New York City Police Department, died in 2008 from an illness related to the September 11 attacks.
In Islip, Councilman Michael McElwee praised the measure after the town board unanimously approved it in a 5-0 vote.
“We have to stand behind law enforcement,” McElwee said. “They make the sacrifice for all of our safety. I think it’s super important that we recognize and do what we can for the families who unfortunately lost people making that sacrifice, protecting us.”
The three towns join other Suffolk County municipalities — Riverhead, Smithtown and Babylon — in adopting similar tax relief measures.
In neighboring Nassau County, as well as the town of Oyster Bay, officials are still considering whether to bring the proposal to a vote.
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