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FEBRUARY 24-28, 2003 Filing date nears for vets, seniors to get extra property tax break
Posted February 26 2003 -
Seniors and disabled veterans who are filing for the first time to receive
extra property tax exemptions allowed under state law have less than one
week to get their paperwork in. County property appraiser's offices will
accept applications until closing time on Monday for senior and veterans
exemptions on the November 2003 tax bills. Mailed filings must be
postmarked by that date. County officials expect more veterans to apply
this year because their exemption will go from $500 to $5,000 off their
assessed property value. The increase, which applies to all taxes levied
against residential property, stems from a new law passed last year. "We
did a lot of work with the local veterans office, and I think we're going
to be quite pleased with the response," said Dorothy Ewing, director of
taxpayer services for the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's Office. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of February 26, 2003 (Feb. 26, 2003) -- This week the Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps each announce an increase of reservists on active duty in support of the partial mobilization. The Navy reports no change. The net collective result is 16,735 more reservists than last week. The total number of reserve personnel currently on active duty in support of the partial mobilization for the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 123,448; Naval Reserve, 6,933; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 19,906; Marine Corps Reserve, 14,727; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 3,069. This brings the total Reserve and National Guard on active duty to 168,083 including both units and individual augmentees. At any given time, services may mobilize some units and individuals while demobilizing others, making it possible for these figures to either increase or decrease. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve who are currently on active duty can be found at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Feb2003/d20030226ngr.pdf . (From DOD Release)
Letters to the Editor: Ask the swarms of veterans if DVA care is
'dysfunctional'
Monday, February 24, 2003
- The Department of Veterans Affairs is a world-class health-care provider
rated among the finest in the world by civilian accreditation
organizations, not the "dysfunctional" system The Post alleges in
its Feb. 9 editorial "Stop busting veterans." That tired refrain collapses
under scrutiny: we treated about 4.2 million veterans last year; another
2.1 million are on our rolls, and high-income, non-disabled veterans (who
can afford care elsewhere) are coming to us in droves. Is that indicative
of a dysfunctional system? To accommodate this demand, President Bush
proposed a record increase in the department's budget for the fiscal year
that began Oct. 1. That increase is evidence of the president's support
for veterans. It is a promise kept. Collier veterans honor Collier's veterans counselor Eddie Hartnack
Monday, February 24, 2003, Most of them fought in World War II and
Korea, though several saw combat in
Vietnam.
For many seated in the banquet hall of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7721
in Naples on Feb. 6, going above and beyond the call of duty earned them
their war wounds. Eddie Hartnack, a veterans counselor for
Collier
County, said it's why he does the same for them. The veterans wanted to
say thanks. They did it with a plaque, worth no more than the $50 allowed
by the county, and Hartnack paid for his own meal when they presented it.
The veterans didn't want to create problems for the man many call their
hero. To the contrary, the modest event they put together for him had as
many hugs as a wedding. Sixty veterans, their wives, some of their
children and friends had a turkey supper with all the trimmings to heap
praise on Hartnack for being their navigator through the maze that is the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
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HELP US BUILD
THE MEMORIAL! |
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VA NEWS YOU CAN USE VA Financial Management Praised - WASHINGTON -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), recognized for applying "best practice" techniques in health care, patient safety and information management, is receiving similar praise for its financial management activities. (2/25/03) VA and Health and Human Services Sign Agreement To Improve Health Care for American Indian Veterans - WASHINGTON -- Rural American Indians and Alaska Natives who served in the military will receive enhanced medical care as a result of a new agreement by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Health and Human Services. (2/25/03) Capital Asset Realignment For Enhanced Services, Phase II Update -- November 2002 -- In June 2002, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that the second phase of VA's national planning process, designed to meet the health care needs of veterans over the next 20 years, was underway. Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) was first conducted as a pilot study in Veterans Integrated Service Network 12. (VA's medical system is divided into 21 regional health care Networks.) Phase II is being conducted in the remaining 20 Networks. (word version) VA Health Care and the Medical Benefits Package -- July 2002 -- One of the most visible of all Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits is health care. VA has about 1,300 care facilities, including 163 hospitals, 850 ambulatory care and community-based outpatient clinics, 206 counseling centers, 137 nursing homes and 43 domiciliary facilities. (word version) Ask Benefits Questions Via E-MAIL: For specific Compensation and Pension benefits questions and local regional office issues, the contact list is by state and geographical area of jurisdiction. Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents (2002 Edition). The 2002 edition of this booklet lists the variety of federal benefits available to veterans and their dependents. Selecting the link above will download the booklet as a PDF file. La versión en Español de el folleto "Beneficios Federales para los Veteranos y sus Dependientes", el cual explica la variedad de beneficios disponibles para los veteranos y sus dependientes, se encuentra disponible en versión PDF al presionar aquí. VA - 13 Years as a Cabinet Department - Website contains informational material regarding VA's history as a Cabinet Department Facts about the Department of Veterans Affairs |
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NEWS STORIES OF INTEREST
Ocala's 351st training hard |
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STATE
LEGISLATION OF INTEREST TO VETERANS
Click here for a summary/status report of bills we kept an eye on
during the 2002 legislative session. |
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Issues and Action: Veterans Issues VA Testimony at Congressional Hearings VA testimony before Committees of the U. S. House of Representatives:
VA testimony before Committees of the United States Senate: (Some links require Adobe Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded here) Please encourage others to sign up for efloridavetsNews.
Sign up at http://www.floridavets.org/news/newsletter.asp
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