The Public Safety & Veterans Committee met on July 27, 2026, at 10:00 AM in the Committee Room, 8th Floor, Michaelian Office Building, White Plains, NY. The meeting was a joint session with the Budget & Appropriations, Legislation, and Infrastructure & Housing Committees. Legislator Cunzio chaired in place of Chair Tubiolo. Present: Legislators Cunzio, Smith, Woodson-Samuels, and Gashi; Absent: Tubiolo and Clements. The committee acted on 11 agenda items—8 property tax exemption proposals, 1 bond act, and 2 intermunicipal agreements—all by unanimous vote and referred to the Board of Legislators. The meeting adjourned at 12:35 PM. Note: The raw transcript also captures other committees' meetings held the same morning; this summary follows the Public Safety & Veterans agenda and minutes.
Justin Adin (Assistant Chief Deputy County Attorney) and Dianne Vanadia (Associate Budget Director) explained that New York State has created optional ("opt-in") property tax exemptions, and Westchester County may choose to adopt them. The exemptions affect how the existing county tax levy is distributed within local municipalities, not the total amount levied. The effective date for the new provisions is taxable status dates occurring on or after October 1, 2026.
This resolution sets a public hearing, and the local law adds new Chapter 476 to provide a real property tax exemption for active-duty members of the Armed Forces who served in a combat zone during the prior calendar year. The exemption applies to primary residences and is up to $20,000 or 25% of the assessed value. Legislators questioned the availability of participation data and the potential shift of tax burden to other property owners; Adin noted that there is no county-level fiscal impact and no reliable estimate of eligible service members. The items were approved unanimously.
This resolution and local law amend Article II of Chapter 473 to exempt property owned by veterans who are 100% permanently and totally disabled as a result of military service. The property becomes fully exempt. Discussion included statistics: Westchester County has an estimated 22,000 veterans, 13,000–14,000 veteran homeowners, and 1,200–1,500 with service-connected permanent/total disabilities; an estimated 255 parcels are affected (out of 255,000 taxable parcels, described in the transcript as 0.4%). The items were approved unanimously.
This resolution and local law add new Chapter 474, granting a 50% real property tax exemption to surviving spouses of police officers killed in the line of duty. Adin clarified the definition of "police officer" under New York law, which includes county, local, state, and NYC police, as well as certain peace officers. Legislators asked for a document detailing the definition. The items were approved unanimously.
This resolution and local law amend existing Chapter 475 to increase the surviving-spouse exemption from 10% to 50% for spouses of volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance service members killed in the line of duty. The 10% exemption continues for active volunteers with two or more years of service. The items were approved unanimously.
The committee approved an amended bond act authorizing $7,960,000 in bonds for Capital Project BCR64 (3232) to replace the fire alarm system at the County Correctional Facility. Correction Department staff (Joseph Spano, William Fallon, Karl Vollmer) explained that a pilot installation using a pneumatic VESDA system on one pod was successful, and the remaining facility will be upgraded. They confirmed that fire watch procedures will be maintained during construction. Approved unanimously.
The committee approved acts authorizing intermunicipal agreements with the cities of Peekskill and White Plains for reimbursement of prisoner transportation costs, retroactive from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027. These are routine annual renewals. Both items were approved unanimously.
This meeting is being recorded and memorized. Morning, everybody. I am legislator with the same. Uh today is July 27th. Should have the budget and appropriations committee. Uh we will start it with a roll poll vote. President, Lisa Holstein. Present. Legislator Dombio. Yeah. Legislative Pierce. Okay. Committee Vice Chair Subiono. Majority with Williams. Here. Legislative Williams Johnson. And Chairman Gashi. Here. Okay. We are open at 1025 day. Other committees. All right. I'll open legislation. Absolutely. All right. Alan Smith. Good morning, everyone. And we are going to open up the committee on legislation. The recall of the role. I am here. Uh committee vice chair and a war. Yeah. Board by chair funding. Minority leader committee. Here. Let's say. Yeah. Let's do an open. Legislative. Here. And legislative Uli. Yeah. No. No. Okay. And Chairman Gosh. Here. All right. Legislation's open at 1026 p.m. I'm Margaret Concio.