As a life resident and property owner in the town of Allegany, I served in the U.S. Army from 1966-68, including a tour in Vietnam.

It came to my attention in 2024 while researching “perks” available to veterans that six school districts with residents in Cattaraugus County honor veterans with tax exemptions. Veterans already receive exemptions at the town and county level in Cattaraugus County, with exemptions structured according to service (combat or non-combat) and the percentage of disability, if one exists.

The six school districts are Olean, Pioneer, Gowanda, West Valley and Springville-Griffith (Erie County) and Frewsburg (Chautauqua County), the latter two of which have properties in Cattaraugus County.

In 2024-25, with information provided by the county, I learned there are 331 veterans in the town of Allegany and 90 in the town of Carrollton receiving exemptions at the town/county level, most being applied to the veterans’ homes.

Last April, I requested permission from the Allegany-Limestone Central School District to do a presentation regarding a veterans exemption at the April 22 board of education meeting. I prepared a 10-minute informative presentation. When my turn came to present I was informed I had just three minutes.

All board members were in attendance as well as the district superintendent and the secretary of the board. In the brief time allotted, I explained my mission and passed out printed information that included a veterans’ maximum guide sheet (provided by the Cattaraugus County assessor’s office), which explained how exemptions are calculated.

Nearly a year later, I am still waiting for a decision. I have been in contact with Allegany-Limestone Superintendent Tony Giannicchi on two occasions and received no positive information.

This inaction by the ALCS Board of Education leads me to question whether veterans in general, and especially in the ALCS district, are appreciated. I say this because at the time of my presentation my own service to our country was not acknowledged.

John T. Williams, Allegany