08/20/2026
CHANGES IN REGULATIONS MAKE TAX BURDEN LIGHTER
FOR SOME ELDERLY AND/OR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
The city has approved changes to its local law that will lower the tax burden for more Glens Falls seniors and persons with disabilities on the City portion of their real property bill. The bills go out in January. The changes raise the income level of people who qualify for the low-income senior citizens- or disability-related tax discounts. The Common Council passed the changes unanimously at their Aug. 11, 2026, meeting.
The goal of the change was to help more people with their taxes and bring the income limit in line with Warren County. The changes affect city real estate taxes only and have no effect on state or school programs such as STAR programs or the school taxes.
Before the income levels were raised for City taxes, incomes needed to be below $25,900 to receive any exemption from City taxes.
Now, seniors (over age 65) or persons with a disability whose income is less than $37,399, will receive a discount between 5% and 50% of the assessed value of their home. The exact discount depends on the person's income.
For instance, a person at the bottom of the scale with an income of less than $29,000 per year will receive a discount of 50% off the assessed value of their real property. At the top of the scale — an income of $37,399 — will receive a 5% discount. (See the sliding scale below.)
"While there is a financial impact on the City, the Assessor, the Common Council and I felt this was the right thing to do for people in our community and to bring our practices more in line with others in our region," Mayor Diana Palmer said. "We hope this change provides meaningful relief to residents who need it."
City Assessor Susan McEnaney noticed the discrepancy between the city's income limits and the county’s. She brought the proposed changes to the mayor who assigned it to the Common Council Audit and Finance Committee. The change was consistent with a concern that Fourth Ward Council Member Ben Lapham raised last year. Lapham sits on the Audit and Finance Committee, along with Second Ward Council Member Bob Landry and Committee Chair Dan Donahue of the city's First Ward. The committee advised the full council to move the changes forward. A public hearing on the proposed changes was held in July.
For senior citizens who already receive the senior citizen exemption, you do not need to “apply” since the County’s limit was already at $37,399, and the Assessor’s office mails out renewable exemption forms every fall.
However, if you have a disability and did not qualify before because your income was over $25,900, you must apply. Income is based on the previous year's earnings.
You may find the applications online on the City’s website (www.cityofglensfallsny.gov) on the Assessor’s page or click below:
Senior citizens application here.
Disabled person's application here.
Assessment Office web page.
If you have any questions or concerns, you may reach out to the Assessor or her assistant by coming to the Assessor's office at City Hall, 2nd Floor, 42 Ridge St., Glens Falls, New York, by calling 518-761-3807 or by emailing [email protected].
Income limits and the discount that qualified seniors and people with qualifying disabilities will receive on the assessed values of their homes.
The percentages show the discount off the assessed value of the home that qualified people will receive. The assessed value of the home helps determine the tax bill but is not itself the tax bill.
The percentages did not change under the revised local law, but the income scale rose from a maximum income of $17,500 to $29,000 at the low end of the scale and from $25,899.99 to $37,399 at the top of the scale. Under this change more people will qualify for the discounts.
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