Republicans launch online STAR $ petition

5/20/2009

By Patsy Nicosia

Republicans launch online STAR $ petition

Senator Jim Seward was in Cobleskill Monday to launch a grass-roots petition drive to restore the state’s STAR rebate check program.
The petition is available online at www.IWantMyStarCheck.com, or at the Town of Cobleskill offices at Shad Point.
Anyone without a computer can call Senator Seward’s Albany office, 455-3131, to be mailed a copy.
The STAR rebates, which total $2.6 million annually in Schoharie County, have been eliminated in the difficult 2009-10 state budget.
A few weeks ago, members of the Senate Republican Conference launched an online petition drive in an effort to have the “rebates” reinstated.
Before about a dozen Cobleskill Republicans on the front lawn of Alan and Rosalee Danforth’s Overlook Drive, Cobleskill home, Monday, Senator Seward called the 2009-10 budget a mistake.
“There’s a lot of pain in this year’s state budget,” he said, “and one of the worst features is the elimination of STAR,” which he characterized as a “real shot in the arm” to middle class property owners.
“Every fall, my office is flooded with calls from people wanting to know where their STAR checks are,” Senator Seward said.
“With the economy, this fall I expect even more calls—especially when you consider that this state budget will cost the average family of four an extra $2,400 a year in new taxes and fees.”
The exact amount of STAR rebate checks depend on the school district the property is located in.
Senator Seward said checks average about $450 per household.
“I’m encouraging every middle-class taxpayer who’s fed up with higher property taxes to sign the petition and let Albany know,” he added.