LEHMAN TWP. — Three Lake-Lehman School District residents were exonerated from paying property taxes due in 2015 at Monday’s school board meeting.
The rare maneuver was a court order, said Mary Jo Casaldi, secretary to the district’s superintendent and school board.
Robert M. DeYoung of Lake Township and Robert J. Ritinski of Ross Township had a combined total of $4,512.67 in real estate taxes refunded. Thomas Anthony Kordowski of Ross Township was also released from an undisclosed property tax amount, according to the district.
The men were given the tax relief through the Pennsylvania State Veteran’s Commission for Real Estate Tax Exemption.
The district received a letter from the Luzerne County Council and documentation from the Luzerne County Office of Assessment and Appeals, the Pennsylvania State Veteran’s Commission for Real Estate Tax Exemption and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs stating the men are disabled military veterans qualifying them for the indemnity, Casaldi said.
Veterans can be eligible for real estate tax exemption if they meet certain criteria, such as:
• Being honorably discharged or released from the United States armed forces after serving in a U.S. war or armed conflict.
• Having sustained injuries during their service that includes a loss of two or more limbs, blindness, being a paraplegic or a permanent disability due to their service.
• The veteran is the sole owner of the home or estate.
For more information on veteran benefits, visit www.military.com.
The next Lake-Lehman School Board meeting will be at 7 p.m. March 14 in the library of the Lake-Lehman Junior-Senior High School.
