A petition was circulated throughout town by local veterans asking the town board to enact the new policy. Essex County approved the tax exemption for towns several years ago but left the amounts up to the individual towns. Willsboro's exemption will cost an estimated $1 per $100,000 in assements or 1 cent per $1,000 on all assessments. Known as the "Alternative Veterans Exemption" allows three levels of reduction based on the type of service. i.e. wartime vets will get $36,000 off their assessment, Combat vets $60,000 and Disabled vets $120,000. The new exemption will be effective with the 2013 tax cycle.