The March 1 deadline to submit an application for the state School Tax Relief Program (STAR) is coming up quickly, but many Malta residents who may qualify still have not sent in the necessary application, according to the town’s assessor.
There are about 300 residents who may qualify and are not signed up, said Sue Otis, assessor for the town.
The STAR program includes a tax rebate program and a partial property tax exemption from school taxes. The program is only applicable to school district taxes and has no bearing on state, county or local taxes. Residents are eligible for this program on their primary residence if they own and live in their home. Otis said many residents pay little attention to the STAR program because they incorrectly believe they do not qualify based on income or age.
`You do not have to be 65. You don’t have to be of an income level,` said Otis.
She said the Basic STAR exemption takes the first $30,000 off the full value assessment of the home. Regardless of age or income, this program is available for the primary residences of owner-occupied homes.
Residents older than 65 who do not exceed a statewide standard annual household income level can qualify for the Enhanced STAR program. Otis said qualifying seniors would see the first $54,000 exempted from the full value assessment.
`When properties change hands, we send out a packet of information to them,` said Otis. The packet includes the application. Residents are encouraged to contact Otis’ office with questions or to schedule an appointment.
Otis noted that she and her office staff will schedule appointments at her office outside of traditional business hours if residents need that convenience. Additionally, Otis said, residents with transportation issues should contact the office to make arrangements for the staff to `go to them.`
`The application process is easy,` said Otis. `I just don’t want anyone to miss out. It’s a substantial savings.`
Otis and her staff have been working with appraisal firm GAR Associates on the reassessment for the town of Malta. She has announced workshop dates of March 14 and March 21 at 6 p.m. and a third on Saturday, March 24, at 10 a.m.
`We will be training the taxpayers as to what the process is about,` said Otis. `I encourage everybody to try and come.`
She said the workshops will be limited to 50-60 people to make it easier to train attendees. Reservations can be made by contacting the assessor’s office at 899-2584. More workshops will be added as necessary. “