Issue Of A Veteran’s Exemption

Letter to the editor via email from anon.

The issue of a veteran’s exemption from real estate taxes has been brought to the attention of Bill Black. This issue is getting a lot of “play” around town and it might be a good idea to get some feedback on the blog.

Essentially the issue is as follows: (i) Will Hodge (a long time Marlborough resident) was wounded in Viet Nam; (ii) he was honorably discharged and received several commendations, including the Purple Heart; (iii) recently the VA certified him as totally disabled and eligible for rights pursuant to a federal law called Title 38; (iv) in Connecticut, state law allows a town, acting through its legislative body, to exempt Title 38 recipients from real estate taxes; (v) the state reimburses the town for the incremental real estate taxes due after a revaluation; and (vi) the Title 38 recipient’s spouse “inherits” the tax exemption upon the death of the veteran.

Will’s spouse, Robin, asked Bill to consider the exemption issue several months ago. He and the Board of Selectmen tabled the issue and have not voted on the matter. Bill’s position is that the legislative body of the town is the Board of Selectmen. The Marlborough Town Charter seems to say that the legislative power of the town is vested in the townspeople acting as a body at a town meeting, i.e. the way the budget is passed. It’s frustrating to have a First Selectmen say that three people (i.e. the Board of Selectmen) get to act for the town and then have those 3 people not act – either lead, follow or get out of the way.

It should be clear to readers that the Board of Selectmen is the executive branch of government in this town. A simple civics lesson would remind Mr. Black that we have separate branches of government and that combining the executive branch with the legislative branch eliminates the system of checks and balances that our government is built upon. This logic alone should clear up any confusion over whether the Board of Selectmen is, in fact, this town’s legislative body.

Now let’s decide as a town whether Will is entitled to an exemption. Do we honor his service to our country….the very sacrifice that makes this discussion possible….or do we tell him life isn’t fair?