Rebate checks coming to alleviate school taxes

Taxes in Warwick becoming a persistent topic at public meetings Warwick — Frank Compitello could be speaking for many taxpayers, not only in the Warwick Valley School District, but in any district throughout the state. “You are all learned people,” Compitello said to the Town Board members last week. “Isn’t there anything you can do to lessen the school taxes?” The Town Board does not have any direct effect on school taxes, Supervisor Michael Sweeton told Compitello, but the board certainly hears him. As a matter of fact, Sweeton said the board has been working with the legislature trying to come up with alternatives to funding school districts. “We don’t control the school budget,” Sweeton said. “The school board is an elected board that doesn’t answer to the Town Board. I understand your concern. We as the Town Board have worked with our assemblyperson and senator. We press upon them that we are concerned with this.” Rising school taxes are forcing some families to leave Warwick. The reasons for the rising school budgets are numerous and include rising costs, health care, insurance and unfunded mandates from the state. “Over the years, schools have been mandated to provide services without funding,” said Sweeton. “The legislators are looking at those unfunded mandates, the lottery, income taxes. Ultimately, we pay. We said we have to come up with some way to reduce the burden on people like you and me, who have no children in school.” Phased-in rebates One way to help relieve the burden is coming in September, when school taxes are due. In June, the state Legislature approved a $2.7 billion rebate program to supplement the existing school tax relief program, which is known as STAR. The rebates will be mailed to those enrolled in the STAR program in September. Taxpayers will receive a rebate check based on the taxes paid in the previous school year. This year, taxpayers will receive a rebate of 30 percent of their STAR benefit. Next year, that amount will increase to 50 percent. In the final year, the rebate will be equal to 75 percent of the taxpayer’s STAR amount. STAR was established in 1997 and phased in over the next four years. All homeowners are eligible for the Basic STAR exemption, regardless of age or income. Basic STAR exempts the first $30,000 of the full value of a home from school taxes. The Enhanced STAR exemption is for senior citizens 65 and older in their primary residence and exempts the first $50,000 of the value of a home from school taxes. Only a stop gap Sweeton admits the rebate checks are a stop gap, and not a long-term solution to rising education costs. There has been much talk of finding alternative ways to fund education. Some have suggested going from a property tax based system to an income tax based system or a sales tax funded school system. There are short-comings with all of them, Sweeton said. “We all recognize the property tax isn’t working,” said Sweeton. “Some people can only go so far before we have to look for other options. From the local perspective, we continue to talk to the legislature and we work to keep the town taxes down.” For families like the Compitellos, relief can’t come quickly enough. “Taxes are running us out of here,” said Compitello. “We have a wonderful school. It looks like the campus of Cornell University.” There is always a trade-off. “We want to give the best for our kids in school,” said Sweeton, “but the question is can we sustain it?”