THE OFFICIAL WEB SITE OF THE
PALENVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
Home of Rip Van Winkle
This page was last updated on: 2/3/2023
Total Calls for the Year - 56
Great day for PFD while we remember 9/11. Excellent job by all!
Millennium Award - Best Overall
2021 Millenium Cup - Best Overall
Best Apparatus 13-20 Years
Best Auxiliary 11 or More In Line
Best Overall Auxiliary
Best Appearing Unit 16-24
Color Guard 2nd Place (1st in Greene County)
Dear Members:
As you may know by now, each municipality is moving forward with a local law to allow an exemption for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers pursuant to section 466-a of the Real Property Tax Law. It appears each municipality intends to offer the local law and will complete the process over the next few weeks. Since applications are due by March 1st for 2023 eligibility, it will expedite matters if you submit the required annual attestation of certified volunteers to the Assessor’s Office as soon as possible.
Who Will Be Eligible?
The proposed local laws require that:
the applicant resides in the Town of Catskill and is a member of an incorporated volunteer fire company or fire department.
the real property which is the subject of the exemption is the primary residence of the applicant. If any part is used commercially this percent will not be included.
the applicant has obtained and displayed a certificate issued by the authority having jurisdiction indicating the applicant has been an enrolled member for at least two years.
A second category of volunteer, currently active members with 20 or more years of service, is also eligible for consideration. Once approved, these individuals may benefit for as long as they utilize their house as a primary residence. (The un-remarried spouse of a deceased 20-year volunteer may benefit from the exemption for such property but only for volunteers who carry the exemption at the time of death.)
The proposed local law indicates that “active service” is defined by the policy of the organization. I urge you to be consistent in the policy you use. Our office will require the dates of active service on the attestation and copies of certificates to grant the exemption.
The Application Process:
For consideration, volunteers must complete and submit the attached application ((RP-466-a-vol) to the Assessor’s Office on or before March 1st. The application form can also be found online at www.tax.ny.gov. Forms may be mailed or dropped off during business hours to:
Assessor’s Office
Town Hall
439 Main Street
Catskill, NY 12414
