SENATOR HILL SUPPORTS FAIRNESS FOR ALL VETERANS

COSPONSORS BILL TO IMPROVE VETERANS’ ACCESS TO PROPERTY TAX RELIEF

AUGUSTA—Senator Dawn Hill (D-York) is cosponsoring a bill to improve Maine Veteran’s access to property tax relief.

Under the current system, only combat veterans qualify for relief under the Maine Veterans’ Property Tax Exemption.

“This is about fairness,” said Senator Hill. “All our veterans, no matter where or when they served, deserve our respect and appreciation for their service.”

One of Senator Hill’s constituents, Cosmo DiBiase, a veteran of the U.S. Army, told her about this issue last year when they met at Norma’s Restaurant in York.

Mr. DiBiase has said he is less concerned with the financial savings from the property tax exemption, than the principle of treating all veterans fairly and equally. Massachusetts, where Mr. DiBiase used to reside, does not restrict it’s veterans’ property tax relief to combat veterans.

Senator Hill worked with her colleague, Senator John Cleveland (D-Auburn), to introduce the measure, which is supported by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6977 and American Legion Post 56 in York.

The bill, LD 1226, An Act to Improve the Maine Veterans’ Property Tax Exemption, has been referred to the Taxation Committee, which will hold a public hearing on Monday, April 8 at 10:00 a.m. in Room 127 of the State House.

###