Disabled Veterans Tax Breaks OK'd In 'No-Brainer' Southington Vote

SOUTHINGTON, CT — As expected, the town's top elected body easily approved a new ordinance expanding Southington's tax breaks for disabled veterans.

The Southington Town Council, on Sept. 8, unanimously approved an ordinance allowing for a 100 percent tax break on all land owned under 2 acres.

The decision came after a public hearing in which speakers resoundingly supported the measure.

Resident Rachel Wache, chairperson of the town's veterans committee, said the action was "the right thing to do."

"I am definitely in favor of this. Because, simply put, it is just the right thing to do for our veterans, and I believe I speak for most other veterans in town," Wache said Sept. 8.

"Please don't miss this opportunity to do the right thing and support our veterans," said resident Joshua Serafino. "They have sacrificed greatly for our country, and the least we can do is provide them a slight tax exemption."

Added Christopher Poulos Sr.: "It's a small price for us to pay for those who have given so much."

Poulos Sr., whose son is Southington's state representative, pulled out an 81-year-old photo of his father and him just before Poulos Sr.'s father went off to World War II.

"They didn't ask what's in it for me? They just picked up and went," said Poulos Sr.

Once the hearing was closed, the council briefly discussed the ordinance before "proudly" — in the words of GOP Councilman Michael DelSanto — voting on the measure.

The support was bipartisan.

"I would like to echo a lot of what was said tonight. For the veterans, as Rachel (Wache) said, it's almost a no-brainer. We need to do that for them," said Democratic Councilperson Valerie Depaolo.

The ordinance is in response to recent state legislation allowing towns to give a 100 percent tax exemption on the land of disabled veterans.

According to the ordinance, which is a simplified rewrite of the town's existing veterans property tax exemption, the tax-free status would be for veterans owning 2 acres or less.

Southington Town Manager Alex Ricciardone told the council Aug. 11 that the state passed a law in 2024 exempting disabled veterans' homes from local taxes, but not the land.

The financial impact on Southington's revenue stream would be relatively small.

According to town officials, it would be about $130,000 total in lost tax revenue.

That amount, officials said, will have to be taken into account during the next budget cycle for 2026-27.

Disabled veterans with more than 2 acres of property in town would still pay local real estate taxes on the land.

The property's tax-exempt status also ends with the death of the veteran and the spouse.

For the minutes of the Sept. 8 Southington Town Council meeting, click on this link.

From Sept. 5: 'Tax-Free Status For Disabled Veterans' Land Mulled In Southington'