City Council

~AD HOC REPORT~ New Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans (CT Leg. PA 25-168) Meeting #1 Thursday, September 25, 2025 Chair Ben Chianese called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. on Thursday, September 25, 2025. Present was Committee Member Holly Robinson; absent was Committee Member Irving Fox. From the City were Joseph Mortelliti, Outside Counsel; Taylor O'Brien, Chief of Staff, Mayor's Office; Donna Murphy, Tax Assessor. Ex Officio present was Peter Buzaid. From the public was Tom Brown. Chair Chianese read a letter into the record from Danny Hayes, Veterans Affairs Advisor, in support of the new exemption. Ms. Murphy summarized the updates to the exemption into two parts; the exemption applies to property that is up to two acres; and in order to qualify you must be a 100% totally and permanently disabled individual with unemployability (TPDIU). Chair Chianese noted that the eligibility is for service related disability from any branch. Member Robinson asked about qualifying residents under the current exemption; Ms. Murphy confirmed there are 26 veterans receiving the exemption now, or about $5.5M with a tax loss of $139,103. If land is added it would come to an additional $1.9M off the Grand list, or an additional tax loss of $48,669. Chair Chianese stated that the TPDIU status is not easy to achieve and Ms. Murphy confirmed there would be 9 or 11 residents who would qualify for this updated land exemption. Mr. P. Buazaid asked about application requirements; Ms. Murphy explained that the state legislation requires annual application submissions and the veteran would need to apply with the City by December 31st each year, and include a qualified award letter from the V.A. A message in the V.A. portal would remind them every July 1st to reapply by the end of the year. Ms. O’Brien confirmed that Mr. Hayes would also assist Veterans with the process. Ms. Murphy added that information would be on the City’s website as well. Mr. P. Buzaid asked for clarification regarding the two-acre rule and if it pertains to one property vs. a sum of multiple properties owned by one person; Ms. Murphy stated that it is a total of two- acres and that the land can have no commercial component to it. Mr. Mortelliti explained that if the V.A. fails to provide a disability rating in time to apply, there is a retroactive/lookback option. Ms. Murphy further explained that if a disability rate designation is effective prior to when the veteran receives their qualifying letter, then the City would need to reimburse the veteran going back to the effective date (as of October 1, 2024). Chair Chianese asked about surviving spouses; Ms. Murphy confirmed that surviving spouses would continue receiving the benefit (as of October 1, 2024). Mr. Mortelliti spoke on his interpretation of the re-application language; Ms. Murphy explained that the CT Office of Policy and Management (OPM) stated in their presentation that a new V.A. qualification letter and application are needed annually. Chair Chianese asked if there is a length of residency minimum to apply; Ms. Murphy confirmed there is not. Member Robinson asked for clarification of the impact on taxes; Ms. Murphy confirmed it is about an $80,000 to $90,000 tax loss. Chair Chianese asked if there is a median value cap; Ms. Murphy and Mr. Mortelliti confirmed there is not. Members discussed changes to the draft ordinance and the process for getting the ordinance in effect by December to allow time for residents to apply. Ms. Murphy confirmed that OPM is providing an application for all Tax Assessors to use for this exemption. Member Robinson asked for clearer language regarding the addition of land to the existing tax exemption. Members further discussed the need to apply and to include a new V.A. qualification letter annually; Ms. Murphy identified language from OPM and Section 235 of the Legislation that requires the annual application and letter. Additional discussion took place regarding the Ordinance enactment process. A motion was made by Chair Chianese, seconded by Committee Member Robinson, to continue this ad hoc at the call of the Chair. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:21p.m. Respectfully submitted; Ben Chianese, Chair, Holly Robinson