The city of Oneonta may exempt seriously disabled veterans from paying property taxes.
Gary Flaherty, a retired U.S. Army command sergeant major and chief administrator for the Oneonta Veterans Outreach Center, advocated for the move in a presentation to the Oneonta Common Council Tuesday, July 21.
Flaherty said the measure would impact a maximum of 33 veterans in the city. He said he had been working with the City Assessor Hank Schecher to determine tax revenue impacts.
“The impact is minimal,” Flaherty said.
The city has been considering the exemptions since at least January, according to Daily Star archives.
The state legislature passed and Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation in 2025 that allows veterans deemed “permanently and totally disabled” by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to be exempt from paying local property taxes. Local municipalities would need to opt into the law by passing a local law or resolution. The exemption for covered veterans and their spouses is not automatic; they must file documentation to receive it.
At the meeting, Flaherty said that the state later removed the opt-in requirement, making the legislation universal. He said he received word Tuesday morning that the state reversed again and municipalities would need to opt in.
Mayor Dan Buttermann said that as of Tuesday, the state made the law universal. That would mean local municipalities do not need to opt into the law for covered veterans and spouses to file for the exemption.
“As far as I understand it, they are ready to go,” Buttermann said of veterans filing for the exemption.
After the meeting, he said City Attorney David Merzig had advised him of the change to a statewide mandate.
The Daily Star could not verify the current status of the opt-in requirement by press time Tuesday.
Notwithstanding the potential state-level change, Buttermann and some members of the council expressed support for making the exemption during the meeting.
“We had agreed that we were interested, and then it was mandated, and then I didn’t know they took it back, and so now I just want to know for sure,” said Kaytee Lipari Shue, D-Fourth Ward. “I think this council is willing to pass it.”
Buttermann said that if the city needs to opt in, he and the council would take up the legislation. Passing it likely would require a public hearing, he said, and would apply during next year’s tax season.
The veterans center called for the town of Oneonta to opt into the law earlier this year. Flaherty said he has a meeting with the Oneonta City School District regarding the exemptions next month.