Bethpage-Tribune_1985-09-12

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BETHB»CE
b L T H P A O C
B C T H P A G C NY
4 C O P » tS
V. 1 B « A R Y
I J7 I 4
Island Trees Plainedge
also serving
Seaford OldBethpage •Plainview
VOL. 20 NO. 23
Veterans Up,Seniors Down
The taxable assessed value of veterans' exemptions in
Nassau County rose by more than $24.5 million dollars or
15.2 percent for the 1986 county tax roll, according to Abe
Seldin, Chairman of the Nassau County Board of Assessors.
$ 186,774,451 of assessed value is exempted for 1986 as cJom-pared
with $162,179,095 for 1985. The number of veterans'
receiving an exemption rose from 77,735 to 90,240, or 16; 1
percent. ^ '/;, '.'/',. '.:-'
' "This increase in yeterans'exeniptidnscame,'' Seldin said,
"as a result of a change last year iti the state law governing
veterans'real property tax exemptions." ;
Thebriginal law dates back to the Spanish Anierican War ,
and before it \yas amended veterans' benefits were paid
based on the amount of money received from the govern­ment
and used for the purchase of property receiving the
exemption. That benefit is called an eligible fuiids veterans'
exemption. Veterans already receiving such an exemption
caif "continue to receive it or increase it, if eligible, to the state
maximum of $5,000 of assessment, but new applications to
Nassau^ County under this law are no longer permitted.
The new law, known as the alternative veterans' exemp­tion,
was offered for the first time this year. It grants benefits
to veterans based on whether they served in wartime, in
combat and whether they.have a service-connected disabil­ity
Wit h passage of thealternativeivetei:ans' exemption law,:
many people who never qualified under the eligible funds
law, especially many veterans of Korea and Vietnam,
became eligible tor benefits lor the first time.
There are 22,759 alternative veterans' exemptions on the
rolls for the first time for 1986. There are also'10,254 fewer
exemptions under the eligible funds law for 1986 than for
1985. A few of those were removed from the tax rolls, but
most of the changes represent veterans who received very
low benefits under the eligible funds law and switched to the
new law because it afforded them a greater exemption.
Since many veterans receiving low benefits under the
eligible funds law did switch to the alternative veterans'
exemption, the average exemption for those veterans, who
stayed with the eligible funds law rose from $2,090 to $2,360.
Under the alternative veterans' exerhption, the average
exemption for 1986 is $1,200.
Seldin pointed oiit that: "The veterans' exemption applies
to county and town taxes, but not to school or special
district taxes. jSew recipients ofthe exemption will first see it
retlected in their county and town tax bill which is mailed
next January. '
While the number of veterans receiving tax exemptions
went up sharply on the 1986 Nassau County tax roll, the
number of senior citizens exemptions for county and two
purposes decreased by 5.7 percent from 10,162 in 1985 to
9,580 in 1986. The taxable assessed value of the exemption
(Continued on page 8)
Dillion Speaks
To The Public
Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillion says it is
important for the public to understand what is happening in
the criminal justice system, and' he's making available to
residents. Assistant District Attorney's for speaking
engagements. Last year, the District Attorney's Office
handled more than 300 speaking engagements.
Dillion said representatives are prepared to speak on a
variety of topics involving the criminal justice system,
including Frauds, Burglary, Civil Rights, Career Criminals,
and how the system works.
"It's im|)ortant for the public to get involvedand beaware
of what's available to them. An educated public can make a
positivedifference; For exampip; Civic Action .of Nassau has
been ihpiiential inchangin^Jawsin Albany. Their support
of criminal justice legislatioh arid active lobbying has been
the key to4idoption;" Said'Dillidn. r
If you're interested in a speaker, please write DA Denis
pillion, 262 Old tountfy Road, Mineola, New York 11501.
2*'*^»:urther information call 535-2994.
Week of September 12 - September 18,1985 20 cents per copy
Steeplechasing Returns
To Long Island
The inaugural running of the Mazda Mcadow'brook
Races, A Steeplechase, will be held on Sunday, September
22, at SUNY College at Old Westbur^, Old Westbui^,
Long Island. ** , ^-9*'
Steeplechasing, long-known for it's "family picnic"
atmosphere, marks its return after mqre than a 40-year
absence %o the original site of America's oldest formal stee­plechase
race, first held in 1883. This event will be held at the
former Ambrose Clark Estate, now the 600-acre college.
Five races will be run, with a total purse of $75,000. The
Meadowbrook Races will benefit Winthrop University
Hospital in Mineola (formally Nassau Hospital).Tirst race
is 2 p.m.
General admission is $10. Gates open at 10a.m. Race will
run rain or shine.
For more mformation, call 1-800/453-4001.
NO TIME TO HALT: ItTl be clearing one hurdle then on to the next at the Mazda Meadowbrook Steeplechase Races,
Sunday, September 22, 10 a.m. (Post-time 2 p.m.) College of Old Westbury, Old Westbury, L.L This country-style
steeplechase meet is the. first to bring back the "tailgate picknicking" fun of a day at the steeplechase races, a Long
Island tradition more than 40 years ago.
U.S. Service Academies Want You!
by Rep. Norman F.Lent
With the start of another school year, many high school
students begin looking to their future after graduation and
making plans for college. Each year, it's my privilege as your
Congressman to nominate ten outstanding local high school
students to each of the four U.S. Seryice Academies: the
il.S. Naval Academy, theU.S. Military Academy at West
Point, the U.iS^Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant
Marine Acj^demy.
The acadfemy review process is highly competitive, but
those young riien and women who are chosen win receive
one of the best educations ayailaljle, and will have the
opportunity tqpUrsWe^challengihgifulfi
officer iripi^r Nation's arrped forces. ^ that
a record pumbeii ipf niy norniriees -r iOiistucl^nts,--; were
selected^ifbr the'acadpijciilc year ;W
, Jodw; b^ihg,•i^c^pte(JM'^^^^
young rit6#'^nd wo^ril^n ta (^^^
Office (Suite 300; 2280 Grand Avenue; Baldwin; New-York
11510) to receive the necessary application forms. Please be
certain to include your name, address, parents' names, tele­phone
number, social security number, sex, birth date, high
school, year of graduation, rank in class and the academy
you wish to attend. Remember, I can nominate each student
to only one academy, so it's, important to specify the
academy you'd most like to attend.
Applications must be completed in full and returned to
my office no later than November 15, 1985. All applicants
are then interviewed individually by my Academy Nominat­ing
Committee which is comprised of leading members of
the comniunity, manyyvith past military experience. Thetop
1() nominee^ to each acadeniy are selected on the basis of
outstanding academic achievement, leadership qualities,
and for participation io, extracurricular activities both at
school and in the comniuriityvThe aicademies make the final
selections from the pool of nominees submitted by all Con­gressmen,
Senators, and the Presiident.
If you are interested, pleasje contact my Baldwin District
Office. I'd be happy to send you the necessary information.