Rockland volunteers likely to leave local tax exemptions behind

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Rockland volunteers likely to leave local tax exemptions behind

James Walsh • The Journal News • January 8, 2008

New York volunteer firefighters and ambulance corps members can't claim both state and local tax breaks this year. That has caused confusion among some volunteers visiting assessors' offices to refile for the local tax credit.

"We have people coming in to renew the local exemption who didn't know about the state program," Ramapo Assessor Scott Shedler said.

The state offers for the first time a $200 deduction on income tax for 2007, which, in the case of Rockland volunteers, exceeds any property-tax reduction in the county.

Combining both town and county property-tax credits, emergency volunteers in Rockland have a benefit ranging from about $14 in Haverstraw to $25 in Clarkstown.

The state's $200 tax deduction would amount to about $60 for someone in the 30 percent tax bracket.

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