Following the New York State Assembly’s passage of bill A.5969 last week, Assemblyman Joseph M. Giglio (R,C,I- Gowanda) announced his satisfaction with pushing this legislation through to help property owners across New York.

“We passed this bill in response to concerns from taxpayers,” said Giglio. “We received numerous complaints from people who didn’t receive their STAR rebate checks on time. The modification to the STAR program last year resulted in an unworkable system, and our taxpayers suffered as a result.”

The STAR rebate was previously an automatic credit on a homeowner’s property tax bill, but it was changed in last year’s budget. Those who bought homes in New York after the change were set to receive a check from the state, but many reported issues, such as late checks or receiving incorrect amounts.

“Making certain that that our homeowners are receiving the tax breaks that they need and deserve is crucial to our work as representatives,” said Giglio. “Our taxpayers deal with enough burdens already, and the new system was making things even more difficult. I was proud to vote ‘Yes’ on this bill, and I hope it will complete the legislative process and become law.”