Mount Vernon School District Complies With 2019 Property Tax Cap

Mt Vernon Schools: The Mount Vernon City School District recently announced that area residents may be eligible to receive property tax credits. The credit is a direct result of the District’s successful compliance with the 2019 New York State property tax cap.

The Property Tax Relief Credit, which replaced the Property Tax Freeze Credit, is a program that provides additional relief to taxpayers who are already receiving the Basic/Enhanced STAR, or School Tax Assessment Relief, Exemption or Credit. Therefore, taxpayers can receive this credit from the state in addition to their STAR Exemption. Under STAR, homeowners see a reduction in the assessed value of their homes, which is used to calculate their school taxes.

“For the fourth time in five years, the board and administration put forth – and area residents have voted to pass – a school budget with a zero percent increase in the tax levy, resulting in savings for our local taxpayers,” said Mount Vernon City School District Superintendent Dr. Kenneth R. Hamilton. “Eligible Mount Vernon residents should automatically receive their checks by mail.”

“Kudos to the Mount Vernon City School District for doing what they need to do so that taxpayers can get a tax rebate check,” said Mount Vernon resident Brenda L. Crump.

Introduced in 2016, the multi-phase program directly reduces the property tax burden for qualifying homeowners in New York State. The following criteria must be met by individuals in order to receive checks under the program:

· Live in a school district that complies with the New York State property tax cap,

· Receive either the Basic or Enhanced STAR exemption or credit,

· Have an income of $270,000 or less, and

· Have paid school property taxes in 2019.

Homeowners who qualify for the credit will receive checks by mail directly from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. The checks can be upwards of hundreds of dollars.

The amount of the credit individuals receive through the Property Tax Relief Credit program is a percentage of the eligible homeowner’s STAR savings. For those receiving the Basic STAR Exemption or Credit, the percentage is calculated based on the homeowner’s income. For Enhanced STAR recipients, the credit is equal to 26 percent of the Enhanced STAR savings. The homeowner’s income does not impact the amount of Property Tax Relief Credit he or she receives.