Usanewsonline.com desk: Minority Caucus lawmakers applauded the unanimous Monday, Feb. 27 passage of a Minority-spearheaded proposal that will ensure Nassau County’s volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers receive the maximum property tax exemption allowable under a recently amended state law.

Under the legislation first filed by Nassau County Legislature Minority Leader Kevan M. Abrahams (D - Freeport) and his Minority Caucus colleagues, Nassau County will opt into a state law, enacted in December 2022, that allows volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers to receive up to a 10-percent exemption on the assessed value of their property (exclusive of special assessments) after two years of service. The previous eligibility threshold was five years.

Days after the Minority Caucus initially filed its legislative proposal, the Majority delegation re-filed the proposal on Monday, Jan. 23 with all 18 legislators as sponsors, all but guaranteeing passage. The measure now awaits the signature of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.

“Nassau County’s volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers are the embodiment of courageous, selfless service, and it benefits all of us to reward their dedication and incentivize other community members to become volunteers themselves,” Nassau County Legislator Arnold W. Drucker (D – Plainview) said. “All of us in the Minority Caucus are proud that this measure has passed with the unanimous, bipartisan support that our first responders deserve, and we look forward to County Executive Blakeman swiftly signing this important measure into law.”