Winner Seeks to Reauthorize STAR Rebates

Albany, N.Y., April 2–Eliminating New York’s two-year-old STAR property tax rebate program works against efforts to stimulate economic growth and arrives at the worst possible time for families and homeowners, State Senator George Winner (R-C-I, Elmira) said today as he joined other Senate Republicans in an effort to restore the rebates.

The 2009-2010 state budget plan being enacted by Governor David Paterson and the state’s Democratic legislative leaders will do away with the rebates this year.

“Families, seniors, and all homeowners have counted on these rebates to provide a little relief from today’s high costs and New York’s crushing property tax burden,” said Winner.  “Eliminating the STAR rebate is the worst possible move at the worst possible economic time.”

Winner and Senate Republicans are proposing an amendment to the Democrats’ 2009-2010, $131.8-billion state budget that would reauthorize the STAR rebates.

The Republican amendment would provide the following, projected rebates in 2009 to area homeowners: Chemung County ($453 Basic STAR rebate, $426 Enhanced/Senior STAR rebate); Schuyler ($393 Basic, $385 Enhanced); Steuben ($439 Basic, $414 Enhanced); Tompkins ($440 Basic, $412, Enhanced); and Yates ($310 Basic, $302 Enhanced).