Originally Posted - June 30, 2006

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ALBANY---Governor George E. Pataki has joined State and local officials on Long Island to sign legislation that will provide an additional $2.7 billion in STAR benefits directly to homeowners in New York State over the next three years. The legislation will provide direct rebate checks to New York homeowners later this year. This new property tax relief plan builds upon the existing STAR program to provide homeowners and seniors with significant reductions in school property taxes.

"By providing rebate checks directly to homeowners, we are taking another important step in providing New Yorkers significant relief from their school property taxes," Governor Pataki said. "Our STAR program has been a tremendous success in helping seniors and families, and it's vital that we continue to take steps to reduce the local tax burden and allow New Yorkers to spend and save more of their hard-earned money."

The STAR Rebate Check Program will provide STAR eligible homeowners with an additional $700 million in savings statewide this year. In future years, the tax relief will total nearly $1 billion annually.

This initiative, passed in the closing days of the 2006 legislative session, builds upon the existing STAR school tax relief program. First proposed by Governor Pataki and enacted into law in 1997, the original STAR program was phased-in over four years beginning in 1998 and has saved New York taxpayers $22.3 billion cumulatively through State Fiscal Year 2006-07.

Under the STAR Rebate Check Program, eligible Suffolk County senior homeowners can expect to receive an average rebate check of roughly $375 this fall, while other Suffolk County homeowners can expect to receive average rebate checks valued at roughly $231. Additionally, eligible senior homeowners in Nassau County will receive an average rebate check of $410 this fall, while other Nassau County homeowners will receive an average rebate check of roughly $242.

Currently, senior Long Island homeowners already save an average of $1,810 annually under the STAR program, while other Long Island homeowners see an average annual savings of $1,000 under the program.

In 2006-07, STAR will provide more than 620,000 seniors across the state an average property tax savings of $1,220. Nearly 2.7 million other homeowners will receive STAR benefits, saving an average of approximately $710 this year.

New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Commissioner Andrew S. Eristoff said, "The Tax Department will be making information about the STAR rebate program available on our website at www.nystax.gov, or through our call center at 1-800-225-5829. We will also provide this information to local assessors and State legislators for distribution to the public."

The Governor's historic STAR program was enacted as part of the 1997-98 State Budget. This unprecedented tax-cutting initiative provides school tax relief to New York's homeowners through a State-funded property tax exemption and additional local personal income tax cuts in New York City.

The STAR Program has provided tax relief to approximately 3.4 million New York State homeowners since 1998, and given thousands of senior citizens the ability to maintain ownership of their homes, while making the American dream of home ownership a reality for countless young families throughout New York. 6-30-06

© 2006 North Country Gazette