STAR REGISTRATION IS UNFUNDED MANDATE

NEW REQUIREMENT BY NYS THAT TAXPAYERS REGISTER FOR STAR IS A COSTLY UNFUNDED MANDATE

NYS SHOULD PROVIDE FINANCIAL HELP TO LOCALITIES

I sent the following letter to the Governor, our State Senator and Assemblyman and to other municipal officials.

I believe that local governments should receive some additional financial help from Albany so we can add resources to our offices - to help maximize compliance with the new STAR registration requirement.  Although registration is being conducted by the state, our local offices are receiving calls from residents who have questions.  When it gets closer to December 31st (the registration deadline), many local officials around the state will feel obligated to send reminders to residents to register.  After December 31st we will be swamped with calls from those who forgot to register or don't recall receiving a notification in the mail. 

The letter my constituents have been receiving from the NYS Department of Taxation & Finance was not personalized.  It was addressed to property owners.  I have already heard that some constituents in my town threw the mailing out because they thought it was a form letter - junk mail.  They were wrong.  I am trying my best to notify all residents of the state requirements and to help them get the STAR benefits if they threw out the notification letter from the state.

It's "interesting" that the NYS web site asks for your e-mail address...and yet does not send a confirmatory e-mail for your registration.  Residents printed out the page after they were was done and waited for the e-mail which never came.

If the state  provide local governments with additional resources we will be able to enhance the chances of having a successful transition for the registration requirement. I am sending a letter to the Governor, our State Legislators and to municipal officials about this matter.

Paul J. Feiner

Town Supervisor