Ritchie to Host ‘Star’ Workshops

Joining Forces with Assessors to Remind More than 20,000 CNY, NNY Homeowners They Still Need to Re-Register for Property Tax Savings

State Senator Patty Ritchie and local assessors are joining forces to help homeowners meet a requirement to re-register for the “Basic STAR” property tax savings program—and find information about other property tax discounts for which they also may qualify.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR STAR ONLINE RIGHT NOW

A new state law aimed at streamlining administration of the STAR program, and also helping to prevent fraud, requires current Basic STAR enrollees to re-register for the benefit, which saves the average household $700 annually. The requirement does not affect senior homeowners who are enrolled in Enhanced STAR.

Only about 60 percent of current Basic STAR enrollees in Central and Northern New York have completed the process, which began Aug. 19, according to state officials. More than 20,000 Oswego, Jefferson and St. Lawrence County homeowners who currently receive Basic STAR savings have not re-registered. The deadline to re-register is Dec. 31.

“I want homeowners to get the tax savings they deserve, and that’s why I’m teaming with our local assessors to help make sure that current enrollees in the STAR program don’t miss out on this important re-registration requirement,” Senator Ritchie said. “What’s more, many communities offer additional tax savings and homeowners will have the chance to get more information and see if they qualify.”

Workshop attendees will be able to re-register for Basic STAR, as well as find answers to their questions about other property tax savings programs that may be available. The free workshops will be held:

Jefferson County

(Jointly hosted by Jefferson County Office of Real Property Tax Services)

Monday October 28, 4-6 pm

Watertown High School, 1335 Washington Street

St. Lawrence County

(Jointly hosted by the St. Lawrence County Real Property Tax Office)

Wednesday, November 6, 4-6 pm

Gouverneur Central School

133 East Barney Street

Oswego County

(Jointly hosted by Oswego County Real Property Tax Services and the Oswego County Assessors Association)

Thursday, November 7, 4-6 pm

Pulaski Public Library, 4917 North Jefferson Street

Homeowners may also register online, by clicking a link on Senator Ritchie’s website: www.ritchie.nysenate.gov, or by calling a special STAR hotline, (518) 457-2036 (the hotline is available Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am - 8 pm; and Saturdays, from 9 am - 1 pm).

The STAR property tax savings workshops are only the latest effort by Senator Ritchie to deliver property tax relief to homeowners. In addition, Senator Ritchie:

· voted this year for record funding for Basic and Enhanced STAR, helping to lower property taxes for 3.3 million New York homeowners, including 85,000 homeowners in Oswego, Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties;

· supported the state’s new 2% property tax cap, which is providing millions of dollars in additional relief for property owners;

· introduced legislation (passed by the Senate) to restore the popular STAR rebate checks, which were cancelled in 2009, prior to Senator Ritchie’s election to the Senate. Senator Ritchie plans to reintroduce the bill again next year.

CLICK HERE FOR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT STAR.

CURRENT STAR ENROLLEES, CLICK HERE TO WATCH A VIDEO ABOUT RE-REGISTERING FOR STAR.