Media Contact: Randolph Yunker - (516) 571-2490

(Mineola, NY) Nassau County Assessor Harvey Levinson today reminded qualifying homeowners that the last date to file for all property tax exemptions to be applied to the 2005-2006 County Assessment Roll is January 3, 2005.

Assessor Levinson, who is the chief administrator for all of the County’s property tax relief programs, embarked on an intensive outreach campaign to highlight the many exemptions that are available to qualifying homeowners at dozens of speaking events and through Department mailings during his first year in office including: the Basic and Enhanced School Property Tax Relief (STAR), Veterans, Senior Citizen, Limited Income Disabilities, Home Improvement, Volunteer Firefighters and Ambulance Workers Exemptions.

“I urge every qualifying homeowner to take full advantage of these valuable tax savings programs,” stated Assessor Levinson. “Once approved, many homeowners could find themselves saving literally hundreds – if not thousands – of dollars off of their property tax bills each year.”

While many of the County’s property tax exemption programs are either income or special needs driven, the Basic STAR Exemption is available to every resident who lives in his or her own home, condominium or cooperative apartment regardless of age or income. Since its inception in 1997, hundreds of thousands of Nassau County homeowners have filed for school property tax relief. Yet, Department of Assessment records reveal that over 50,000 homeowners still have never filed and may qualify for Basic STAR.

“Although actual tax savings vary from school district to school district, Basic STAR savings applied to the 2004-2005 School Tax Bill (based on the 2003-2004 school tax rates) average from $462 to $1,442 for Class 1 (Residential) properties; Enhanced STAR savings average from $831 to $2,609,” stated Assessor Levinson.

This year, the Governor and State legislators included a cost-of-living-adjustment to raise the qualifying income for individuals 65 years or older who qualify for the Enhanced STAR Exemption to $64,650.

“I urge all interested property owners to contact my office and file for these exemptions before the January 3, 2005 deadline,” concluded Assessor Levinson.

To learn more about Nassau County’s property tax exemption programs or to obtain an application, homeowners should contact the Department of Assessment at one of the following numbers: