Reformed STAR formula would benefit taxpayers
By TAMMY WHITACRE
editor@cgazette.com  

LYONS - The Board of Supervisors is asking the state to change the way in which STAR benefits are calculated.

At their March 17 meeting, the board joined Erie, Monroe, Westchester and Onondaga counties in a bid to the state legislature to change the formula used when determining STAR benefits for local taxpayers.

Currently, the system uses property tax revenues as the sole component in determining STAR benefits, the resolution states. Wayne County is one among five counties in New York which dole out a portion of their sales tax revenue to local school districts. That money is lost in the state's STAR program formula, reducing the benefit to local taxpayers. According to the resolution, if this sales tax amount, totaling over $5 million, was considered in the calculation, local taxpayers would see a greater return from the STAR program.

Wayne County Real Property Tax Service Director Shirley Bement said the formula the state uses is complex. To calculate individual impact, visit www.co.wayne.ny.us/Departments/realproptax/realproptax.htm.

Star benefit amounts are handed down to local assessors from the state level, Bement said, without any number crunching necessary. Just how much of an increase residents could see if a change is made is uncertain as yet.

Should the formula be revised, school district tax rates would not be impacted.

The approved resolution was sent with support from the aforementioned counties to the state for consideration.

In other news, the board:

HONORED - the memory of Edwin Wheeler, a former Palmyra Town Supervisor who served on the board from 1986 to 1991. He died March 9 at the age of 81.

REQUESTED - an extension from the state to add an additional 1 percent sales tax until Nov. 30, 2011. The county has the authority to tack on an additional 1 percent sales tax should it be needed to help with revenue until Nov. 30, 2009. The county has not acted on this authority as yet.

ACCEPTED - a $48,000 grant for Wayne-NET to be run through the district attorney's office.

AGREED - to advertise for bids for roof replacement and cornice work on the county building at 9 Pearl St. in Lyons, which houses the Department of Motor Vehicles and county clerk's office.

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