Tax-Free Status For Disabled Veterans' Land Mulled In Southington

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A public hearing and, likely, a vote on a new ordinance granting tax-exempt status on disabled veterans' land will take place on Monday, Sept. 8.

The Simsbury Town Council will host the hearing at 7 p.m. that evening at the John Weichsel Municipal Center, 200/196 N. Main St., Southington.

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 proposed language of 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 at its last meeting, Aug. 11 the state passed a law in 2024 exempting disabled veterans' homes from local taxes, but not the land.

"When the tax bills went out, they reflected zero assessment on the house, with the assessment on the land," Ricciardone said.

He said recent legislation now allows towns to exempt the land for veterans in certain cases.

"So it is an option," Ricciardone said. "It's the council's decision on whether it wants to adopt that or not."

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

Southington Town Council Chairman Paul Chaplinsky reported that it would be about $130,000 total in lost tax revenue.

Chaplinsky said that $130,000 will have to be taken into account during the next budget cycle for 2026-27.

"So we would have to be prepared to grant that in our budget if it passes tonight," he said.

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

Ultimately, the council unanimously approved setting the public hearing, which is a required step prior to the tax breaks being approved.

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

For more information on the ordinance and the hearing on Monday, click on this link.

For the minutes of the Aug. 11 Southington Town Council meeting, click on this link.