Homeowners Can Expect Local Property Tax Rebate Checks

At the close of this year's legislative session, I am very pleased both houses of the state Legislature agreed to provide property tax relief to homeowners in the form of property tax rebate checks.

I am very disheartened when watching residents leave our beautiful state because they cannot afford to pay their property tax bills. I hope that, by providing rebates to local homeowners, we can prevent this from happening further. Property taxes are one of the biggest problems in our state, and these rebate checks are a step toward easing that burden.

With this program, homeowners currently receiving either Basic or Enhanced STAR exemptions will receive rebate checks. The checks will be equal to $9,000 multiplied by the homeowners' 2004-05 school property tax rate. Rebate checks for senior citizens eligible for Enhanced STAR will be 67 percent higher. These checks will be equal to 30 percent of each taxpayer's Basic or Enhanced STAR savings.

Here are the estimated average amounts that 117th Assembly District property owners may receive.

The rebate checks from the state Department of Taxation and Finance will be mailed to local homeowners by October 31.

Homeowners not receiving STAR exemptions but eligible for the program can apply for a rebate check as part of their initial applications for STAR exemptions.

Skyrocketing property taxes have for too long strained the wallets of homeowners, and it's out of hand. To raise New York's status as a desirable state to live in, this is one issue we simply cannot ignore. While there is still more to be done, I feel we have taken a big step toward attaining this goal by providing savings and putting money back in the pockets of New York's hardworking property owners.

Feel free to direct questions or comments regarding property tax rebates to me in my district office by calling (315) 866-1632, or in Johnstown (518) 762-6486.