Story courtesy: Jerry Vogler, The McLean County VA
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TIME FOR VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS TO FILE PTAX-763
The Veterans Organization Assessment freeze allows qualified Veterans Organizations (chartered under federal law) to freeze the assessed value (AV) of the real property it owns, and on which is located the principal building for the Post, Camp, or Chapter. The AV is frozen by the Chief County Assessment Officer (CCAO) at 15 percent of the 1999 AV for the property for the tax year that the property first qualifies after tax year 2000 OR 15 percent of the AV for the property for the tax year
that the property first qualifies after tax year 2000.
Any improvements or additions that are made to the property that increases the AV of the property also are frozen at 15 percent of the AV of the improvement or addition in the year first assessed.
Veterans Organizations chief presiding officer should complete and sign this Form PTAX-763, to apply for the assessment freeze.
The form must be signed in front of the notary who will notarize the filing and any attached supporting documentation (if necessary due to a change in the property that increases its value).
The PTAX-763 Form must be filed annually with the CCAO by December 31, 2022. Failure to file results in a waiver of the preferential assessment.
The PTAX- 763 Form is available online, at the McLean County or other County Assessor’s Office or at your McLean County Veterans Assistance Commission Office. 1-309-888-5140.
Q: I served for six years in the Army. My military Occupational Specialty involved the transportation of, handling of and disposal of a wide variety of chemicals used in defoliation of brush and cover, as well as solvents, fuel, and other waste products. I am fairly healthy right now but all the information
about toxic exposures like Agent Orange, Burn Pits, Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water has me concerned. I know that many of the medical problems associated with exposure to toxic materials often happen years and even decades after the exposure. How do I know if I was exposed to dangerous toxic materials that may cause medical problems later in life?
A: The VA offers toxic exposure screening for Veterans who report concerns about toxic exposures if they are enrolled in VA Health Care.
Veterans with exposure concerns should ask about receiving the screening at their next VA primary care provider appointment or sooner if the Veteran would like to be screened earlier.
The screening only takes five to 10 minutes with possible further questions and even tests if the answers to the initial screening questions indicate a need to inquire deeper into the issue.
Follow-up screening will take place about every five years depending on the medical conditions a Veteran may be having.
Early review of data coming from the screening indicate that of the 19,000 Veterans who were screened, about 37% had concerns about exposures.
Veterans not currently enrolled in VA health care should apply now.
Visit HERE to learn more. Always remember that your DD214 is a must to qualify for most VA benefits including VA Health Care and Toxic Exposure Screening.
DID YOU KNOW?
McLean County population according to 2022 government statistics is 171,230.
McLean County has 1,662 disabled Veterans living in our County.
Four hundred thirteen of these Veterans are rated by the VA as 0% to 29% disabled.
Two hundred thirty-seven of them are rated at 30% to 49% disabled.
Two hundred fifty Veterans in McLean County are rated 50% to 69%.
Four hundred sixty-four Veterans are rated at 70% to 89% disabled. Two hundred ninety-eight Veterans are rated as 100% service-connected disabled.
Disabled Veterans demographically sorted by age fall into the following distribution. Age 17-44 – 557; Age 45-64 – 444; Age 65+ – 661. There are 1,510 disabled Veterans who are Male and 152 Females.
Veterans make up about 5.4% of the residents of McLean County. Disabled Veterans make up about 18% of the disabled Veterans who reside in McLean County.
Compensation and Pension payments, medical care at the VA Clinic in Bloomington and other VA medical facilities, Vocational Rehabilitation training, G.I. Bill Education Benefits, Supportive Services for Veterans and their Families (SSVF for homeless Veterans), Caregiver payments to compensate caregivers to help disabled Veterans with daily activities remain in their homes, mental health care and many other programs funded by the VA constitute real meaningful use of federal tax dollars which replace funding that otherwise would be the responsibility of State, County and Local Government to
provide.
