ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Robert Wolfenden, a 1999 U.S. Army retiree, is using a state program to request refunds for Lehigh County real estate taxes paid over the last four years.
The document approving the exemption notes Wolfenden was rated at 100% permanently and totally disabled in 2018, allowing him to receive the Pennsylvania Real Estate Tax Exemption — and get refunded over $5,000.
In approving it this week, Lehigh County commissioners took note of the upcoming Memorial Day, and wanted to emphasize their desire that more veterans take advantage of the program, despite the challenge that it is required to be signed off on by the legislative body.
"My experience is that most individuals who have experienced this type of situation aren't so eager to have their name read into the record and become part of the minutes," Commissioner Geoff Brace said.
"[I could] never quite wrap my head around the quirk in the state law and how uncomfortable that can be for the individual to step forward and seek this type of exemption, but glad that we're able to do that."
The commissioners also passed a resolution commemorating Memorial Day in Lehigh County.
Thomas Applebach, the head of the Veterans Affairs Office in the county, spoke gratefully about the officials' recognition of the holiday and the memory of military personnel, reflecting on the service of his father and loss of those he knew that were in the service.
"This resolution tonight, again, is a small gesture," Applebach said.
"But it reminds me that we as citizens, owe a debt of debt to all of our service members. At least in our minds we do, and we need to. The writer George Eliot wrote: Our dead are never dead to us until they are forgotten. Let's never forget."
The county's veterans affairs office provides guidance on applying for the real estate tax exemption.
"They have to be 100% disabled, but if we give them that opportunity, and we can approve this, more thank you to them, right? They served our country. I think it is well- deserved," commissioner Sheila Alvarado said.
Currently, the county says those eligible are veterans with honorable wartime service who reside within the commonwealth and have 100% permanent service-connected disabilities as rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; or the veteran is blind, paraplegic or has sustained the loss of two or more limbs as a result of service.
The veteran must occupy the real estate as their principal dwelling, which must be deeded in the veteran's name or in the veteran and spouse's name, and their annual income cannot exceed $95,279 according to county documents.
Current real estate millage taxes for the county sit at 3.78 mills.
"It's very important for us to remember that there's a lot of different stories that are in connection to Memorial Day," said April Riddick, who noted she had relatives serve.
"We're not a perfect country. But we do fight for freedom and it's always nice to know that we're a country that does not forget that it's so many people gave their lives."
