The STAR Has Fallen

By Andrew Ehinger

    It was a nice 2 to 6 hundred dollar check each year that Long Islanders got from Albany. But in the latest NY State budget plan, the STAR refund check is no more.  In Governor Paterson’s his bid to slash the state's deficit, the 1.7 Billion dollar program had to go. The Basic and Enhanced STAR state tax rebates are still around, but the extra refund checks are history.

    Long Islanders, probably more than anyone in the state, are the most affected by this loss. On the Island we have some of the highest property and school taxes in New York State. The STAR program (refunds and rebates) truly helped folks swallow their tax bill - though talk to any Long Isander and they tell you it still wasn't easy.   

Republican leaders in the Senate tell News 12 they are going to fight to have STAR refunds put back in, but that's not likely since the budget must be passed by Wednesday to be on-time. Still, Garden City's Kemp Hannon says since the STAR refund has been removed, that's one of the main grounds for vetoing the budget. However with Democrats controlling both the Senate and Assembly, it seems like a moot point. Looks like Long Islanders will just have to survive without that several hundred dollar check this year and hope the state can weather the current financial storm for a possible return of the STAR Refund in the future.

Comments

[tommy]

was glad to see they raised the welfare payouts tho' Am I workin' hard enough for y'all? Can I get you a cool drink before I go to my third job?

[Joan Phillips]

The NY Lottery was supposed to supplement school taxes and ease the burden here in NY. What is happening with all that money? Is anyone monitoring where and how this money is funneled to districts? There should be some transparency for us taxpayers so that we can be sure the monies are going where they are supposed to. Our taxes continue to rise...and I sure haven't won the loterry!