To the Editor:
Many municipalities are taking advantage of the law allowing a property-tax exemption for firefighters and ambulance workers after serving the municipality for a specific number of years. Those who have served for the required number of years (for example, two years) can immediately get the exemption; newbies must wait.

I raised the question — can the exemption be retroactive? If a new volunteer signs up, after serving the two years, can credit be given for the previous two years?

I reached out to one of the bill sponsors, Senator Kenneth Zebrowski. A representative from his office said, “You raised a good topic that ultimately may be subject to interpretation by the locality.”

In a follow-up phone call, it was suggested that I contact my assemblyman. I spoke to someone at Assemblyman Chris Tague’s office on June 27 and was to get a return call, which never came.

Note also that, if a responder with multiple years of experience moves to a new town, I doubt the exemption would immediately be granted, not having served in the town.

This all started because of my feeling that responders should be granted the exemption for all years of service. Can each town make this determination?

Kenneth Guarino

Berne