Butler Wants Freeze On STAR Rebates Removed From Budget Proposal

Assemblyman Marc Butler is calling for the STAR Exemption freeze on growth to be removed from the state budget proposal.

Governor Andrew Cuomo placed in his budget a freeze on the growth of STAR exemptions, which help homeowners with increases to property taxes.

Butler says in a public hearing held in Albany this week, the Executive Deputy Commissioner of the State Department of Taxation and Finance admitted the freeze would constitute a tax increase on homeowners.

“Budget gimmicks and hidden tax increases like the Governor’s STAR Exemption freeze is why we spend the time poring over his budget proposal. I am calling on my fellow legislators to insist that this tax increase be removed from the budget,” said Butler. “Middle-class families are struggling as is and a freeze on the growth of their STAR Exemptions will add to their financial burden. The freeze must go.”

He say the freeze is estimated to cost taxpayers about $148 million over the next two fiscal years.