The Greece Town Board voted unanimously on Thursday to opt into New York State's 100% property tax exemption for permanently and totally disabled veterans, allowing qualifying former service members to seek relief from local property taxes on their primary homes. The catch is timing: even veterans who apply right away won't see the savings show up until their 2028 town and county tax bills.
How the Exemption Works and Who Qualifies
Under the new local law, eligible veterans in the Town of Greece can apply for a full exemption from certain special district charges, assessments, and ad valorem levies on their primary residence, according to WHEC-TV. The exemption is not automatic. Applicants must submit documentation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs proving permanent and total service-connected disability status, and the application deadline is March 1, 2027.
Greece Town Supervisor Jeffery McCann said the town is offering the exemption to support veterans with permanent service-connected disabilities and help them remain in their homes and community, per the station's report. McCann encouraged potentially eligible veterans to contact the assessor's office and apply. Veterans with questions about the exemption or the application process can reach the Town of Greece Assessor's Office at 585-723-3621, while those needing help gathering required VA paperwork can contact the Monroe County Veterans Service Agency at 585-753-6040.
A County-Wide Push That Started in September
Greece's vote follows a broader wave of local action across Monroe County. Monroe County Executive Adam Bello signed a local law on October 2 opting the county into the same state exemption program, eliminating the county portion of property taxes for qualifying disabled veterans after the Monroe County Legislature passed the measure unanimously on September 8, according to Monroe County, NY. That county-level law only eliminates county taxes, however — each town, like Greece, must pass its own resolution to erase municipal property taxes, which is what the Greece Town Board did Thursday.
Greece is not alone among Monroe County suburbs moving in this direction. The Town of Pittsford's town board approved its own version of the 100% disabled veteran property tax exemption, according to Pittsford officials, reflecting a regional trend of suburban towns adopting parallel relief measures.
The State Law Behind the Local Votes
The legal foundation for all of these local decisions traces back to Albany. New York's local-option property tax exemption for permanently and totally disabled veterans was created under Real Property Tax Law Section 458-a(11) after Governor Kathy Hochul signed enabling legislation in December 2025, according to the New York State Senate. The statute gives municipalities and counties the discretion to decide for themselves whether to exempt qualifying veterans' primary residences from property taxes.
That discretion didn't extend to school taxes for long. Earlier this year, the state legislature enacted Chapter 77 of the Laws of 2026, amending the same statute to make 100% property tax exemptions mandatory for school districts, while counties, towns, cities, and villages retained their opt-in choice, according to Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC. School taxes make up a major share of the typical New York property tax bill, making that mandatory piece significant even as towns like Greece debate their own portions separately.
A Much Bigger Break Than the Old Veterans Exemption
The new exemption represents a dramatic expansion from what disabled veterans could previously receive. Before Section 458-a(11), New York's standard Alternative Veterans Exemption capped service-connected disability property tax reductions at 50% of a veteran's disability rating, with overall reductions maxing out at 75% even for combat-disabled veterans with a full disability rating, according to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.
What the Savings Could Look Like, and When They Arrive
Actual savings for qualifying homeowners vary depending on local school, town, and county tax levies.
Timing remains the biggest wrinkle for Greece veterans hoping to benefit. Greece residents must apply by March 1, 2027, to see any savings reflected on their 2028 town and county tax bills, per the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. That means even veterans who file immediately after Thursday's vote will wait more than a year before the exemption actually reduces what they owe.
