June 20, 2006

LEVINSON DEMANDS INCREASED “STAR” FUNDS FOR NASSAU COUNTY:
SUGGESTS A FAIRER ALTERNATIVE

MEDIA CONTACT:  Randolph Yunker  (516) 571-2490

(Mineola, NY)  Nassau County Assessor Harvey Levinson renewed his call that Albany should provide additional school property tax relief in the form of an immediate STAR credit of $400 to Basic STAR and $600 to Enhanced STAR recipients instead of its “costly and convoluted” plan to create an income tax credit requiring numerous mailings and processing.

“Nothing is ever easy when politics takes precedence over doing what is necessary or right,” stated Assessor Levinson.  “Back in April, the State Legislature wanted to issue a STAR rebate check wasting $2.5 to $3 million dollars in postage.  After the Governor held back the money, the Legislature contrived a new and more costly compromise that would require the preparation and mailing of a confusing Tax Credit Claim Form that will cost even more than the original plan to implement.”

According to Assessor Levinson, if the Governor or State Legislature does not improve the legislation, qualifying Nassau homeowners would see an average Basic and Enhanced STAR income tax credit of nearly $240 and $400 respectively.  Westchester homeowners would still be given higher tax credits averaging approximately $390 for Basic STAR and $650 for Enhanced STAR.

The amount of the tax credit for Basic STAR credit will vary widely from school district to school district in Nassau County: ranging from $139 in the Great Neck School District, $167 in Long Beach, $183 in Hicksville, to $395 in the Hempstead.  Low-income senior citizens in the Enhanced STAR program will see amounts differing from $233 in Great Neck, $279 in Long Beach, $305 in Hicksville, to $660 in Hempstead.

“To many homeowners, the filing process for the tax credit may mirror the confusion and non-filing that took place under the Federal prescription drug program,” Assessor Levinson continued.  “My solution is simple: add the additional school property tax relief funds to the existing STAR program as an immediate credit and avoid any confusion.”

After examining the Basic STAR formula used throughout the State based on the Legislature’s first proposal, Assessor Levinson discovered that high-wealth areas like Westchester County would be receiving 50% or more in STAR than Nassau and Suffolk Counties.  Under the new plan, the disparity between Nassau and Westchester counties would continue.

“I urge the State Legislature and the Governor to replace their expensive and inherently unfair plan for providing school property tax relief with my proposal for an immediate STAR credit to be added to the existing program and that the funds be distributed equally throughout the county,” concluded Assessor Levinson.

NEW YORK STATE’S PROPOSED INCOME TAX CREDIT BY SCHOOL DISTRICT (PDF)