Town Board discusses highway bids, STAR tax exemptions

NORTH EAST — The Town Board’s May meeting covered a variety of topics — including departmental reports. Board members gathered at Town Hall on Thursday, May 9, to discuss them, focusing the start of the meeting on reports from the Highway Department and the assessor’s office.

During his highway report, Highway Superintendent Bob Stevens talked about the town’s uniform contract. He said he wanted to renew a three-year contract with Ulster Uniform, which he said the department was “very happy with the company — it has good service.” The weekly charge for the new three year contract is $58.75. The board agreed to follow Stevens’ recommendation and approved the contract renewal.

Stevens also said that two string trimmers and one blower need to be replaced. The lowest bid was $1,130.80, from Conway Lawn and Power of Red Hook.

“It was a very good price,” said Stevens. “They’re great tools. All professional.”

He will continue to list surplus equipment and advertise the equipment on Auctions International, he said.

“Surplus equipment,” said town Supervisor George Kaye, “we don’t need it so we might as well get something for it.”

The board agreed, and approved the measure.

From the assessor

During the assessor’s report, Assessor Katherine Johnson told the board that the tax roll was published as of May 1. Residents had the chance to grive their property values during Grievance Day, which was Wednesday, May 29, after press time. On the 29th, the Board of Assessment Review listened to concerns about assessed values. For more information on the process, call Town Hall at 518-789-3300.

Johnson also spoke about School Tax Relief (STAR) program tax exemptions. 

“STAR dropped off,” she said. “New homeowners cannot get into the program. You have to pay your tax bill and then you get a check. The exemption number goes down for senior exemptions because people are passing away. Otherwise, there are no big changes.”

Enhanced STAR, she added, is thought to be problematic but Johnson said she didn’t notice any trouble. 

The assessor also noted that in 2019 there was new legislation regarding the STAR check program, which gets rid of the exemption. 

“To incentivize tax savings, any homeowner can see STAR savings at a zero net increase,” she said. “Now capped income is at $250,000 for STAR, while income is capped at $500,000 for the STAR check program.

“They’re pushing things that way to see how it goes,” Johnson added. “They’re trying to promote it. It’s out of my hands right now so I’m happy.”