The Town of Newburgh Board passed on Tuesday, February 14, a partial tax exemption up to 10% of assessed property value for volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers.

Town Assessor Molly Carhart provided a brief overview of the exemption. The partial exemption will qualify for volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers or qualified spouses of such workers at the decision of the city, village, town, school district, fire district or county.

“The previous exemption was capped at $3,000 of assessed value and this one will increase the exemption now to 10% of the total exemption,” said Carhart. “There are also provisions for a lifetime exemption after 20 years of service, letting the unremarried surviving spouse of a lifetime member keep the exemption and a lifetime exemption for a volunteer killed in the line of duty.”

Each fire company and the ambulance corps will need to supply Carhart’s office with a list of eligible volunteers, their names, the address of their primary residence and how many years of service they have accumulated. Materials must be sent in by March 1 as well as individual applications from the volunteer by March 1. The exemption was approved following a public hearing held at town hall.

“I want to thank the volunteers for what they do,” said Supervisor Gil Piaquadio.