SENATE PASSES MEASURE PROVIDING GREATER PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR SENIORS

Media Contacts:                                                                                                                                           

Christine Geed, Communications Specialist

geed@nysenate.gov or (631) 398-8044

Jennifer Romero, Press Secretary

jromero@nysenate.gov or (631) 513-5657

PRESS RELEASE

Thursday, February 25, 2016

For Immediate Release

Hauppauge, NY – Senator Tom Croci and the New York State Senate have unanimously passed legislation (S1074A) to increase the maximum income eligibility levels for real property tax exemptions for seniors for the first time since 1994. This measure would allow more senior citizens to receive increased relief from their local real property taxes.

“Providing our senior citizens with property tax relief is an important step in making sure that our seniors do not have to choose between paying for their necessities, such as heating and electric, and having to pay their property taxes,” said Senator Croci. “Increasing the income eligibility levels for tax exemptions is one important measure to help more senior citizens with tax relief and it is my hope that the Assembly and Governor will also support this bill,” stated Senator Croci.

Under current law, local governments have the option to provide a partial real property tax exemption to senior citizens who are at least 65 years of age, based upon their income. Starting in 2018, this bill would give local governments the option to gradually increase the income requirements for the senior citizens receiving the tax exemption. This partial exemption can range from five percent of the property's assessed value to 45 percent of the property's assessed value and uses a sliding scale based on the property owner's income to determine the exemption amount.

The bill has been sent to the Assembly.

All media inquiries should be directed to Senator Croci’s Communications Specialist, Christine Geed at (631) 398-8044 (call or text) or via email at geed@nysenate.gov. Inquiries for additional information should be directed to Senator Croci’s Press Secretary, Jennifer Romero at (631) 513-5657 or via email at jromero@nysenate.gov

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