Cuomo tax-freeze could mean election-year rebates

Jimmy Vielkind
ALBANY—Homeowners on Long Island and upstate will get a property tax rebate check this year if they live in a municipality and school district that abides by the state's two-percent property tax cap, Governor Andrew Cuomo said Saturday.

An agreed-upon budget would devote $1.5 billion to this “freeze” program, which was modified in several ways from Cuomo's original proposal.

Homeowners' checks will not be tied to actual spending decreases in future years, as the Democratic governor had originally proposed, but counties and educational BOCES would be required to develop and submit a plan for reducing their spending by three percent through consolidation of services.

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/03/8542861/cuomo-tax-freeze-could-mean-election-year-rebates