If you own property and it is your primary residence, you are probably eligible for a STAR school property tax exemption. For more information, click on the following link: http://www.orps.state.ny.us/star/index.cfm.
Lowered STAR Exemption Changes Tax Bill - September 2010
Q. If the school district tax rate did not increase, why is my tax bill higher?
A. Queensbury UFSD’s school tax rate of $17.535/1000 of assessed value for the 2010-11 year is exactly the same as the 2009-10 year. The tax rate for the 2009-10 year was unchanged from the 2008-09 year.
New York State reduced School Tax Relief (STAR*) tax breaks statewide to reduce the amount of money reimbursed by the state and to reflect the change in market values.
Full STAR exemption amounts for homeowners with a primary residence in the Town of Queensbury changed as follows:
Basic STAR
2009-10 Year = 27,300 (Full exemption: 27,300 x $17.535/1000 = $478.71)
2010-11 Year = 24,300 (Full exemption: 24,300 x $17.535/1000 = $426.10)
Difference = 3,000
This change results in a Basic STAR exemption decrease in the amount of $52.61.
(3,000 x $17.535/1000 = $52.61)
Enhanced STAR
2009-10 Year = 51,670 (Full exemption: 51,670 x $17.535/1000 = $ 906.03)
2010-11 Year = 45,990 (Full exemption: 45,990 x $17.535/1000 = $ 806.43)
Difference = 5,680
This change results in an Enhanced STAR exemption decrease in the amount of $99.60.
(5,680 x $17.535/1000 = $99.60)
*The Basic and Enhanced STAR Property Tax Exemptions are homestead exemptions. Basic STAR is available to anyone who owns and lives in his or her own home. Enhanced STAR is available to senior homeowners whose incomes do not exceed the statewide standard. (Note: The statewide income standard for Enhanced STAR for the 2010-11 year is $74,700. The Enhanced STAR Income Standard for the 2011-12 year will be $79,050).
