Mineola, NY---Nassau County Deputy Presiding Officer Roger Corbin (D-Westbury) and fellow Democrats recently passed legislation that will ease the tax burden for senior citizens who qualify for the Enhanced School Tax Relief Program (STAR) program. The legislation grants a property tax abatement from a portion of the tax increase contained in the 2003 budget, to those seniors earning $60,000 or less per year.

"This means that the 19.4 % tax increase brought about by the prior years of mismanagement and waste will not have to be borne by the senior citizens of this county," Legislator Corbin said. "We don't want to see living in Nassau County become a luxury that senior citizens cannot afford."

STAR provides an exemption from the school portion of property taxes for owner-occupied residences. Certain senior citizens earning less than $60,000 per year are eligible for the Enhanced STAR Program. For more information about the eligibility requirements for the enhanced STAR program, call Legislator Corbin's office at 516-571-6202.