A bill that would cap real property school taxes for seniors age 70 and older who are eligible for the Enhanced STAR exemption has been introduced to the NYS Senate by Sen. Kenneth P. LaValle.
The bill would amend the real property tax law to allow seniors a choice between having their real property school tax rate frozen as of the day they turn 70 years of age or to receive a STAR rebate check.
“Many seniors live on fixed incomes and have difficulty paying school property taxes which have been increasing,” LaValle commented.
“The proposed legislation amends the real property tax law by allowing seniors, age 70 and older, to opt to freeze the full value tax rate applied against their STAR eligible property to the previous year's level, or in the alternative, receive a STAR rebate check,” LaValle said.
If a STAR-eligible property is owned by more than one individual, one of the owners of record must be at least 70 years of age in order to qualify to receive the tax freeze or tax rebate.
Under the new provision, qualifying seniors must choose either the tax cap or the rebate check; they cannot receive both benefits.
“Many seniors live with a fear that they will not be able to afford to live in their homes. My bill will provide financial stability to help our seniors,” LaValle said.
This is not the first time the tax cap legislation has been introduced. In 2011, it passed in the NYS Senate, but never moved out of committee in the Assembly; and in 2012 it never moved beyond committee in either house.
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