NORWICH – According to Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s executive budget proposal released Tuesday, a scheduled increase in the STAR rebate for middle class taxpayers would be delayed one year in an effort to tighten spending.
Despite the delay, the governor’s plan still calls for an overall $134 million increase in STAR rebate funding over last year.
Started by former Gov. George Pataki, STAR is meant to relieve school tax burdens on seniors and middle class property owners.
The promised 17 percent rebate increase would add $65 on average to STAR checks for the middle-class participants in Chenango County, according to Spitzer’s office. If held up until 2010-11, that translates into a total of $673,910 that won’t be divided amongst the county’s 10,214 receiving that exemption in 2008-09, according to figures provided by the county Office of Real Property Tax Service.
Spitzer’s budget, not yet approved by the Legislature, would however dole out $91 million more to senior STAR recipients, a 40 percent increase. In the county, where there are currently 2,857 senior STAR exemptions, the average rebate would go from $327 to $458, according to the real property tax office.
The delayed rebate hike has Republicans in the state Senate, including Senator Tom Libous (R-Binghamton), concerned.
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