[0:05] Hey, good afternoon. Welcome to the Santo County Board of Supervisors

[0:09] September 9th public hearing. Um, I assume attendance has been taken.

[0:15] Uh, I'll call this public hearing on a proposed local law identified as

[0:19] introductory number five, print number one of 2026 entitled a local law

[0:25] authorizing full property tax exemption for certain 100% permanent and total

[0:32] service disabled veterans to order. Will the clerk please read the notice of

[0:37] public hearing? >> Notice of public hearing. Take notice

[0:41] that pursuant to resolution 235 of 2026, the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors

[0:47] will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, September 9th, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. or as

[0:53] soon thereafter as the board can convene in the meeting room of the Saratoga

[0:57] County Board of Supervisors, 40 McMaster Street, Boston Spa, New York 122, on the

[1:02] local law identified as introductory number five, print number one of 2026

[1:08] entitled a local law authorizing full property tax exemption for certain 100%

[1:13] permanent and total service disabled veterans. Take further notice that at

[1:19] this hearing, all persons wishing to speak will be heard. Written

[1:22] communications may be emailed to public comment at Saratoga County.gov or by

[1:27] mail address to clerk of the board, Saratoga County Board of Supervisors, 40

[1:31] McMaster Street, Boston Spa, New York1202.

[1:34] Which public comment must be received by September 9th, 2026 at 3:30 p.m. Copies

[1:39] of the proposed local law are available in the office of the clerk of the board

[1:43] and online at www.saratoga.gov.

[1:47] All right, I know we have some speakers signed up today. So, if you could please

[1:51] when you approach the microphone when your name is called, state your name and

[1:55] address for the record. You have three minutes to speak. This program was made

[1:58] available by New York State. Uh the guidelines and guardrails, if you will,

[2:03] of the program are outlined in the legislation and associated documents

[2:09] provided by New York State. uh local taxing uh jurisdictions such as Saratoga

[2:15] County, municipalities and others have the opportunity to opt into the program.

[2:21] And this is something that uh Saratoga County uh wanted to move forward and

[2:26] make sure we had this on the agenda so we could hear from Saratoga County

[2:30] residents about their thoughts on this measure and the possible adoption by the

[2:36] Saratoga County Board of Supervisors. So, uh, I'll ask Bridget to please read,

[2:43] uh, the names in the order that they were signed in.

[2:47] » David Lockheart from Hadley. >> Good afternoon, Supervisor Barrett. All

[2:52] elected officials. My name is David Lockhart. Uh, I live at 34 Riverview

[2:56] Drive in Hadley, New York. I'm a 27-year member of the American Legion. Been a

[3:01] county commander three times, and I just came off a one-year uh, appointment as a

[3:05] national historian. I participated in the deceased veterans

[3:09] program here for the last 15 years. Saratoga County has been a beacon of

[3:15] supporting veterans and their families and I want to commend this board of

[3:19] supervisors for unanimously voting for this resolution

[3:24] and I sincerely wish that this gets adopted. Thank you.

[3:28] Thank you, Dave. And uh thank you for your involvement in making our uh

[3:34] monthly in uh deceased veteran of the month uh for Saratoga County so

[3:41] successful over the years. Um next up, Bridget,

[3:46] » Bill Gor, >> Bill Gorum from Saratoga Springs.

[3:56] » Good afternoon. >> How you doing? is Bill Goram. I grew up

[3:59] and was raised in the town of Greenfield on the Locust Grove Road. I volunteered

[4:05] to go to Vietnam. I wanted to go and at the time we all thought that we were

[4:10] stopping communism from coming right to Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County.

[4:15] As history shows, that isn't exactly what happened. But I gave up my time and

[4:22] uh I uh feel that we're entitled to special things. Those things are to be

[4:30] told, "Thank you for your service." And of course, that's gotten to be kind of

[4:35] old hand at this point. And when I go to Home Depot, I might get

[4:39] a little annoyed and so forth. And Vietnam veterans are unlike some of the

[4:43] others. I'm very proud that we went. But I came back in 1971, went into the

[4:50] Aderondack Trust Company on Broadway, and I asked to see the loan officer

[4:56] because I thought that I had the right to purchase a home under the VA uh

[5:04] bill that allows you to buy a home. The loan officer came down from

[5:10] upstairs, sat down across from me. I had a business plan. There was a house for

[5:14] sale for $64,000 on North Broadway, one of those big huge places. I was going to

[5:19] turn it into four different apartments, live in one. I had the plan and

[5:24] everything. I didn't have all the information. Clearly, the man that sat

[5:29] across the table from me could have clearly said to me,

[5:33] "Sir, you've got it wrong. This is for a single family dwelling." And that would

[5:38] have ended it. But he didn't. He sat across from me and he said, "Here at the

[5:41] Adarand Deck Trust Company, we don't do veterans loans. And if we did, I don't

[5:46] think we'd give a Vietnam veteran a loan." That's a true story. So for the

[5:51] next 35 years, I stayed away from the VA hospital. I stayed away from all those

[5:58] things. Even I belong to the VFW, but barely ever went there and in Saratoga

[6:04] Springs. And this would be a really nice thing at this point. I've now been

[6:10] diagnosed with it's peripheral neuropathy. And the VA does not like to

[6:16] give out compensation for things. However, I have no feeling on my feet,

[6:21] my toes, or my fingertips. My balance is awful. And they said it's

[6:28] not diabetes. It's not your back. It's Agent Orange from Vietnam. 56 years ago,

[6:35] they sprayed us, said they were killing the mosquitoes, and we were all in favor

[6:39] of that back then. But like myself, there's a lot of older vets that could

[6:44] really use on a being on a fixed income could really use this benefit. And it

[6:49] means an awful lot that the county stands up for this. And it'd be hard

[6:53] place for Saratoga and some of these other communities to not give us the

[6:58] same exemption. I thank you for your time. Um, thank you very much for

[7:03] considering this. Bye. >> Thank you for your service, sir.

[7:09] » Frank Mcccle, Waterford.

[7:15] » Good afternoon, supervisors. Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman. My name is

[7:18] Frank Mcccleman. I reside at 84 Clipton Street, Waterford. Uh, I'd like to read

[7:24] uh, and I'm going to paraphrase some of this. I know this letter has been

[7:27] distributed to the board, but I'd like to read it to be entered into the public

[7:30] record. Uh when this property tax exemption was first discussed, I know

[7:35] that there were some folks who may or may not have agreed with it um or

[7:40] thought that it might be a burden on our neighbors. And while there's a little

[7:45] bit of truth to that, uh I don't think it's a burden that is at the level that

[7:49] it was painted. Um but I'll I'll I'll read on. Uh the recent debate

[7:56] surrounding New York's property tax exemption for veterans who have been

[7:59] determined by the US Department of Veterans Affairs to be 100% permanently

[8:03] and totally disabled has become about much more than public policy. In some

[8:07] cases, it has revealed misconceptions about the purpose of the exemption and

[8:12] unfortunately attitudes toward disabled veterans that deserve thoughtful

[8:16] reflection. Reasonable people can debate the fiscal impact of any legislation.

[8:21] Communities have a responsibility to understand how new laws affect local

[8:25] budgets and taxpayers. And those discussions are both appropriate and

[8:29] necessary. What should not be questioned, however, is whether these

[8:33] veterans deserve the exemption because of what they earn, what benefits they

[8:38] receive, or whether they continue to work.

[8:41] comments suggesting that disabled veterans are somehow less deserving

[8:44] because they received disability compensation, military retirement,

[8:48] social security, or or who have built successful careers fundamentally

[8:53] misunderstand why this exemption exists. This exemption has never been about

[8:58] financial need. It is about sacrifice. VA disability compensation is not public

[9:04] assistance. It is compensation for permanent injuries, illnesses, and

[9:08] disabilities that were incurred or aggravated while serving the United

[9:12] States. It represents our nation's commitment to those whose lives were

[9:16] permanently changed in military service. The question should never be whether a

[9:20] disabled veteran earns too much to deserve recognition. Success after

[9:25] military service does not erase the physical or emotional consequence of

[9:29] service connected disabilities. We should celebrate veterans who overcome

[9:33] extraordinary adversity, not resent them for rebuilding productive lives despite

[9:38] the challenges they continue to face every day.

[9:42] No one would willingly choose chronic pain, PTSD, amputations, paralysis,

[9:47] hearing loss, cancer from toxic exposures, or poisoned water, or

[9:51] countless other service connected disabilities simply because compensation

[9:55] accompanies those sacrifices. Military service is unlike any other

[10:00] profession. Many veterans volunteered during times of war. Others were drafted

[10:05] and served because their country required it. They accepted the risks

[10:09] most Americans never face. Today, while military service remains voluntary,

[10:14] relatively few choose that path. Like any government program, there may be

[10:20] isolated cases of abuse. Those rare exceptions should never define the

[10:23] overwhelming majority of disabled veterans who served honorably,

[10:27] sacrificed greatly, and contribute to their communities. The overwhelming

[10:31] majority of veterans are precisely the kind of neighbors every community should

[10:34] hope to attract. They buy homes, they raise families, they volunteer, operate

[10:40] businesses, support local charities, and strengthen local economies. Uh just for

[10:46] a little hint, and I know I'm over time, uh return on investment for VA benefits

[10:50] in Saratoga County. Last year in direct cash payments to beneficiaries, our

[10:56] economy benefited from over $75 million in VA benefits to veterans. We've got

[11:03] just over 14,000 veterans in our county. That doesn't count our families that are

[11:08] here. Uh full disclosure, I am the director of veteran services. I have

[11:12] some clients in the room here who are supporting this. Some of them are on

[11:16] their second 100% rating for different cancers related to Agent Orange. I see

[11:20] the folks that are hurt the most. I been doing this for 16 years. This county I

[11:26] have never not felt supported and I I feel supported today. I know this board

[11:31] is considering this law. Saratoga County is taking the lead. I'm proud to be a

[11:35] Saratoga County veteran and I thank you all for your time.

[11:39] » Thank you, Frank. Irwin

[11:47] Dominz, North umberland. >> Good afternoon, members of the board.

[11:54] Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak today. My name is

[11:56] Irwin Dominguez, 51 Bmpton Lane, Gansvort, New York. And I stand before

[12:02] you as a veterans whose life has been permanently changed by military service.

[12:06] I live every day with the invisible with the invisible invisible wounds of war,

[12:10] PTSD, chronic respiratory issues from toxic exposures and additional service

[12:14] connected ailments that continue to affect my health, my daily functioning,

[12:18] and my future. These are not injuries I choose. They are the price of defending

[12:23] our nation. I am here to speak in support of adopting the full property

[12:27] tax exemption for veterans who are rated 100% permanently and totally disabled.

[12:32] This is not merely a tax matter. It is a question on how a grateful community

[12:38] chooses to honor the sacrifice of those who lives have been fundamentally

[12:43] altered while serving their country. The debate is not about financial need. It's

[12:47] it's about sacrifice. As a Saratoga County Veterans Service

[12:52] Agency clearly outlined, disability compensation is not a public assistance.

[12:56] It is recognition for injuries and illnesses incurred in service to the

[13:00] United States. Many veterans like myself will carry those injuries for the rest

[13:05] of their lives. No one would willingly choose caught chronic pain, PTSD, toxic

[13:10] exposure, illnesses, hearing loss, foot issues, or loss of mobility simply

[13:16] because compensation accompanies those sacrifices.

[13:19] These conditions permanently reshape every aspect of life, physical, mental,

[13:24] emotional, and economic. Veterans who are rated 100% permanent in total have

[13:29] endured the greatest level of service connected disability as recognized by

[13:32] the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Their exemption reflects a promise made

[13:36] made long ago that if a service member sacrificed their health for our nation,

[13:41] the nation, and its communities would honor that sacrifice through meaningful

[13:45] relief and support. There are several reasons why this

[13:49] exemption matters deeply. These disabilities are lifelong and

[13:53] irreversible. Veterans did not choose them and recovery is not possible. The

[13:58] exemption acknowledges the permanent impact of service on their lives.

[14:03] Success after service does not erase disability. Some disabled veterans

[14:07] continue to work, volunteer, or contribute in their communities. But

[14:11] that does not mean the consequences of their injuries disappear. As the Veteran

[14:16] Service Agency just noted, we should celebrate veterans who rebuild their

[14:20] lives, not penalize them for overcoming adversity.

[14:23] The exemption encourages healthy, stable communities. Disabled veterans are often

[14:28] deeply engaged citizens. They buy homes, raise families, volunteer, operate small

[14:33] businesses, and strengthen local communities. These are exactly the kind

[14:37] of residents any community should want to attract and retain. The impact on the

[14:42] average taxpayer is modest. While the total reduction in his assessed value

[14:46] can appear large, it does not equate to significant increases in individual tax

[14:50] bills, presenting only large aggregate numbers creates an incomplete picture of

[14:55] their true fiscal impact on households. Saratoga County has the opportunity to

[15:00] join the governor of the and the state of New York in recognizing and honoring

[15:05] these veterans by adopting this exemption. Disabled veterans should not

[15:08] be treated as everyone else because our experiences are not like everyone

[15:11] else's. We gave our pieces. We gave pieces of ourselves, pieces we will

[15:16] never get back so our communities could live in safety and freedom. I urge you

[15:20] to adopt the the full property tax exemption by 100% permanently and to

[15:25] total disabled veterans and demonstrate that Saratoga County not only speaks

[15:29] gratitude but loves it. Thank you for your time and consideration.

[15:34] » Thank you, sir. Thank you for your service.

[15:38] » Jeffrey Tratier Trhatier. Sorry if I butchered your last name.

[15:42] » Former supervisor. >> Yeah, former supervisor. I see you still

[15:45] have my picture up, but uh Jeff Troutier. Uh I live in Lakeern, 122

[15:50] Smith Mountain Road, but I'm here as an advocate and past member of this of this

[15:55] board and also uh on the veterans committee at the a few years ago. Uh I

[16:01] know that Saratoga County takes great care of their veterans as an advocate

[16:06] for this and then one that wants to know more about how to move forward with this

[16:10] process. not only here but in the community that I live and also

[16:14] throughout the state. There's been there has been some confusion as to what this

[16:20] bill or what this real property law 458 alpha is all about. A lot of people

[16:25] still think it's mandatory no matter what. But as you know this board by

[16:29] having this public hearing it it has gotten down into the local and uh town

[16:34] level county level for local adoption based on budget needs. Having looked at

[16:39] some of the budgetary issues that uh not ju not only this county might have but

[16:43] in the county that I live in as well right now I'm being told and the numbers

[16:48] that I see that I data crunch is that what less than 1% of the uh parcel

[16:55] homeowners that own parcels primary homes are even eligible for this. So

[17:00] we're talking about a very very small fraction. They have to be 100% disabled

[17:05] as you as you know, but also they also have to be permanently um and total

[17:10] disabled not as by what a doctor says, but as what the VA says. Individuals

[17:16] don't assign that. My point is is that this is a very high bar to even to even

[17:21] get for a homeowner or a veteran to even even obtain. And uh you've heard some of

[17:28] the stories here today. Um, I served in Iraq and I' and and in Afghanistan. I

[17:34] volunteered to go to Afghanistan and I've seen the pain and suffering that

[17:37] some of some members have. I've even some family members and even some

[17:41] members that I know that won't come forward with what they have. So, I urge

[17:46] this board, if I can, even though I don't live in this county anymore, to to

[17:50] really take a hard look at this and uh support it and uh pass it in order for

[17:55] full board resolution to take care of those members that I uh that the

[18:00] members, the veterans that are here that I would call my brothers and sisters uh

[18:03] in arms. So, for that, I thank you very much for your time and uh good luck with

[18:07] it. I appreciate it. >> Thank you. Thank you.

[18:13] Thank you for your service. Thank you for your service to this board on behalf

[18:16] of the town of Hadley. >> Gary Chapla, Boston.

[18:26] » Good afternoon. My name is uh Gunry Sergeant Gary Chapla, retired US Marine

[18:32] Corps. Uh I served in uh combat as an infantry men in Fallujah, Iraq, and I am

[18:39] uh permanent and total disabled from my uh combat service.

[18:44] Um besides uh I'm lifelong resident of Saratoga County except for my during my

[18:52] service to the country and um I hope you adapt this uh resolution

[19:00] um myself being permanent told disabled um

[19:08] being able to live comfortably in in Saratoga and in uh New work is very

[19:15] difficult uh financially. Um myself and other friends of mine uh

[19:23] uh disabled veterans um we look at moving towards to uh

[19:29] states like Florida or Texas where they have this

[19:34] uh not paying uh the taxes. Uh when I saw this in the news and it was brought

[19:40] up uh I was ecstatic uh cuz uh this would give me the chance to uh stay in

[19:48] my uh beloved county of Saratoga. Um with the 250th

[19:54] anniversary of our nation and uh also the battle of Saratoga, the turning

[20:00] point of our revolution. Um, I think it's just fitting to uh adapt this to uh

[20:09] to help veterans uh that are uh hurting like myself and I hope you will consider

[20:15] it. Thank you. >> Thank you for your service, sir.

[20:23] John McCran Wilton.

[20:33] So John McCran Wilton, New York. As a former deputy

[20:38] supervisor and councilman for 12 years in the town of Wilton, I'd like to um

[20:43] publicly voice my support for this tax exemption to ensure disabled veterans in

[20:47] Saratoga County have a safe and a affordable place to live. We should

[20:52] always strive to protect and support and incentivize our veterans to live in our

[20:56] country. Um and my heart goes out to the other gentleman from Saratoga. Um, I had

[21:03] a brother-in-law and and his brother had uh passed from the age in orange and I I

[21:08] I understand everything that you're going through and my my heart and my

[21:12] family's hearts go out to you all. Thank you.

[21:15] » Thank you.

[21:26] » Tim Mosman Mossman, sorry. Malta Mosman

[21:34] We should have uh Tim Mosman uh from 61 Bayberry Drive in Maltton, New York. Um

[21:40] we've heard a lot of stories tonight. Um and there's many more stories out there

[21:45] just like this. Um we have to stand behind our veterans. Um

[21:51] they obviously sacrificed a lot of things for us and the reason that we can

[21:55] be here today is because of them. So, I stand 100% behind the veterans tax

[22:00] exemption. Um, and thank you all for your service and thank you for the

[22:04] service of the ones that are out there that couldn't be here tonight. Thank

[22:06] you. >> Thank you.

[22:14] That Okay. Anybody else would like to speak that didn't sign didn't? Yes,

[22:20] ma'am. >> Hello.

[22:23] » You can bring that down a little bit. Yeah. My name is Magdona Resker. I live

[22:27] at 1326 Route 147 in Charleton or West Charlton. The address is also Amsterdam,

[22:34] New York. I am 100% service connected. I drank

[22:39] I also am in a mixed marriage with an FDNY firefighter from the World Trade

[22:43] Center. We have been told it's going to be a matter of when and not if we will

[22:49] be ill. Uh he was there right when the second tower fell. Tower 7 almost fell

[22:54] upon him and his fellow firefighters. We've joined our local fire department.

[23:00] We have been trying to get a part of this community. I know for transplants

[23:05] um with the 25th anniversary of World Trade Center.

[23:09] I am also being followed for toxic exposures at Camp Lun for four years. My

[23:14] daughter is sick. I was pregnant with her at the time. She just turned 40. She

[23:19] will be going under some procedures for some issues. she has medically. So, it

[23:25] would be nice if like Saratoga was the first to adopt this and really start to

[23:29] pave the way for other counties and towns to again, as many of the gentlemen

[23:35] up here have mentioned that, you know, we don't do this for compensation. If 1%

[23:41] of the population joins the military, when the 30% are eligible, they pass the

[23:47] ASVAB, they are high school graduates. But 1% actually raises their hand to

[23:52] defend this country. So I would appreciate if there was consideration to

[23:57] again let us stay in our homes, serve our communities. I am the vice president

[24:02] of the volunteer fire department. My husband, as a disabled firefighter, has

[24:07] joined that fire department in West Charlton. and we want to proudly stay in

[24:11] this community, be embraced like we've embraced you. So, please consider this

[24:16] and um hopefully other counties will also adopt it with other towns. Thank

[24:21] you. >> Thank you both for your

[24:26] Thank you both. Thank you both for your service. Anyone else? Okay. Any comments

[24:32] from uh supervisors? All right. I just want to say that uh we

[24:36] » Mr. Chairman Mike >> Oh, yeah. Yeah, I was just going to

[24:39] » you asked. I didn't know if you're going to open it up, but thank you for doing

[24:41] that. >> Yeah.

[24:42] » Um I've spoken to a number of uh veterans. I'm a veteran myself and um I

[24:48] don't think we go far enough. >> Uh and I hope our elected officials at

[24:52] the state and the federal levels, we bring to them maybe another little

[24:56] choice event that can affect everybody in our country and that's alleviating

[25:00] income tax at certain levels, maybe 100%. And uh because this is a federal

[25:06] program now, we're taking steps to thanks to the chairman and this board to

[25:11] be hopefully the first and and go on not only county but to the appropriate

[25:16] towns. I'm a supervisor for the town of Still Water and we'll introduce it. But

[25:20] I want to hear from the people as well because you give them the right to do

[25:23] so. But I would encourage everybody to think along those same lines. We raise

[25:27] our hand, we join, we go get trained and off to war we go. And uh we may not come

[25:34] back or we come back in pieces or we come back 100%. It doesn't matter. We

[25:38] come back hopefully. And uh but I think we ought to go further uh at the federal

[25:43] level and give some more alleviation and support along the income tax level. It'd

[25:47] be fair and equal across the boards. Thank you very much,

[25:53] » Mr. Murray. Our Navy representative our Navy

[25:58] representative as chair of the veterans committee. I'm totally in favor of this

[26:02] and I'm glad that the board is pushing it forward and I hope that Saratoga

[26:06] County is the first county to make this happen in New York State.

[26:10] » Thank you and fellows. >> Thank you for your leadership on the

[26:13] veterans committee. Appreciate it >> and for your service.

[26:19] » Anyone else? >> All right. I just want to say, you know,

[26:21] we we hear the phrase freedom isn't free quite often, and I think what we heard

[26:26] today was just a small cross-section of the cost of the service that we so much

[26:33] appreciate from the men and women of the military. And one thing that I made

[26:37] clear at our public hearing in Clifton was

[26:44] obviously we have a lot of folks in this room that served overseas

[26:49] and came back with injuries um and other negative effects. But um

[26:57] it's also the people that are training here in the United States every day and

[27:03] maybe they never go to a foreign theater, but just that repetitive

[27:07] training and dangerous conditions and the dangerous training that they do on a

[27:13] on an ongoing basis can result in injury in itself. So, the injuries come in in

[27:19] many different facets, but we understand how much it does affect you and God

[27:24] bless you and thank you for your service and we'll thank you here on behalf of

[27:29] all the veterans in Saratoga County. Um, I'd also like to ask if we have any

[27:34] written communications. >> Yes. Correspondence from Cindy Doran in

[27:40] the town of Wilton supporting the proposed local law

[27:44] » that what >> supporting the proposed local law.

[27:48] » Okay. Thank you very much. So we had one written comment as well. If there's no

[27:52] other comments from supervisors, I will um state this public hearing to

[27:59] be closed.

Public Hearing 9/9/2026

Transcript