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MY VIEW: Give taxpayers back STAR rebate checks
By Senator Steve Saland
We are now seeing the familiar sights that mark the end of summer: school buses, potted mums, apples at our farm stands, and of course those first signs of leaves changing color.
For homeowners, this time of year also brings the dreaded school tax bill.
There is no other single issue that generates as much concern among my constituency as school taxes. While rates vary among towns and school districts throughout the region, the unifying factor is we all agree taxes are too high. While most of the people who call or write are seniors on fixed incomes, there are plenty of homeowners struggling with two adults working to pay the bills.
Any state elected official who does not recognize the hurt caused by high taxes is divorced from reality.
Efforts have been made to reduce taxes, but the governor and his allies have taken a giant step backward, when we need leadership to move forward on tax relief.
In 1997, the state adopted the STAR program which provided significant tax relief at the time, particularly for seniors. With time we began witnessing erosion of the benefit provided by the STAR exemption as tax levies far exceeded the rate of inflation.
The Senate Republican Majority put forward several measures again and again to reform the real property tax system. With every proposal we met resistance from the Assembly Democrat leadership.
In 2006, we met with some success — we were able to forge an agreement on the STAR Rebate Program. While the rebate checks didn’t erase the pain of paying school taxes, they certainly helped many get by - none more so than seniors on fixed incomes. Modest relief for some, but nonetheless relief, now it’s gone.
Relief that so many found helpful was stripped from us this year in the 2009-10 state budget.
When the state should be doing more to relieve tax burdens, we saw STAR rebate checks eliminated and were delivered $8.5 billion more tax and fee increases this year. I’m still shaking my head in disbelief and disgust.
For those who are expecting to see their rebates in the mail this fall, don’t wait at the mailbox — the state’s new leadership has cancelled your check.
Is this what we asked for? I’m pretty sure when I ran for office I heard promises from the governor, the new Democrat leadership as well as rank and file members across the state that real property tax reform was the number one priority. For each senator and assemblymember who voted to take away our rebate checks, I ask where are your priorities? Were you listening to the taxpayers? And if so, then why did you turn your backs on them?
To view the voting record on Senate bill 57B that stripped away the STAR rebate checks, please go to: www.nysenate.gov and click on Legislation and Open Senate to complete a legislative search.
For homeowners, this time of year also brings the dreaded school tax bill.
There is no other single issue that generates as much concern among my constituency as school taxes. While rates vary among towns and school districts throughout the region, the unifying factor is we all agree taxes are too high. While most of the people who call or write are seniors on fixed incomes, there are plenty of homeowners struggling with two adults working to pay the bills.
Any state elected official who does not recognize the hurt caused by high taxes is divorced from reality.
Efforts have been made to reduce taxes, but the governor and his allies have taken a giant step backward, when we need leadership to move forward on tax relief.
In 1997, the state adopted the STAR program which provided significant tax relief at the time, particularly for seniors. With time we began witnessing erosion of the benefit provided by the STAR exemption as tax levies far exceeded the rate of inflation.
The Senate Republican Majority put forward several measures again and again to reform the real property tax system. With every proposal we met resistance from the Assembly Democrat leadership.
In 2006, we met with some success — we were able to forge an agreement on the STAR Rebate Program. While the rebate checks didn’t erase the pain of paying school taxes, they certainly helped many get by - none more so than seniors on fixed incomes. Modest relief for some, but nonetheless relief, now it’s gone.
Relief that so many found helpful was stripped from us this year in the 2009-10 state budget.
When the state should be doing more to relieve tax burdens, we saw STAR rebate checks eliminated and were delivered $8.5 billion more tax and fee increases this year. I’m still shaking my head in disbelief and disgust.
For those who are expecting to see their rebates in the mail this fall, don’t wait at the mailbox — the state’s new leadership has cancelled your check.
Is this what we asked for? I’m pretty sure when I ran for office I heard promises from the governor, the new Democrat leadership as well as rank and file members across the state that real property tax reform was the number one priority. For each senator and assemblymember who voted to take away our rebate checks, I ask where are your priorities? Were you listening to the taxpayers? And if so, then why did you turn your backs on them?
To view the voting record on Senate bill 57B that stripped away the STAR rebate checks, please go to: www.nysenate.gov and click on Legislation and Open Senate to complete a legislative search.
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of registerstar.com.
wwnyguy wrote on Oct 1, 2009 12:55 AM:
" I'm GLAD it's gone . Some people were getting back MORE than they paid in school tax . If you don't want to tax seniors , thats fine BUT you shouldn't give them back MORE than they actually paid . The program was rushed through legistration to say " We got something done ". But they should have done it right , You watch now we will push thru a healthcare plan that will equally have mistakes and be stuck with it . "
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stonepound wrote on Sep 30, 2009 5:07 PM: