The Statement: from the Web site of mayoral candidate Stephanie Miner

From: Stephanie Miner, the Democratic and Working Families candidate 

URL: (http://www.minerformayor.com/page/meet-stephanie )

SUMMARY: On her Web site, Miner takes credit for drafting and passing STAR  Exemption program legislation to help senior citizens cover some medical expenses. Miner did not have a role in creating the STAR program, which was enacted by the state. Instead, she authored and helped to get the Common Council to pass a city ordinance that added the prescription-drug cost exemption to the state program for local senior citizens. Local municipalities set the amount of money and the type of exemptions citizens can use to calculate their eligibility for rebates in the STAR program.

What her Web site says:

“She drafted and passed legislation such as the Say Yes to Education Program --which provides $1,000,000 to academic support programs for inner city students-- and the Star Exemption Program--which offers seniors tax exemptions to cover the cost of their medical expenses.”

The Facts:

The State Tax Relief Exemption Program — or STAR Program — was created in 1999 by Gov. George Pataki and the state legislature to give some tax breaks to homeowners and the elderly. It was cut from the state budget and expires after the 2009-2010 school-tax levy.

New York’s Office of Real Property Services Web site describes STAR’s exemptions this way:

·         The Basic STAR exemption gave a break on every taxpayer’s primary residence. Basic STAR exempted on average $30,000 of a home’s value from school taxes in New York.

·         The Middle Class STAR exemption raised the tax break on a taxpayer’s primary residence if the family income was no more than 250,000.  The Middle Class STAR was used in addition to the Basic STAR. The Middle Class STAR rebate were calculated on a sliding scale. When a family’s income hit $90,000 in upstate New York or $150,000 in the New York City-area, the rebate amount began to decrease.

·         The Enhanced STAR exemption covered only senior citizens ages 65 and older. Only one member of a family had to be a senior citizen. The yearly household income could not exceed $73,000 gross income in 2009. The Enhanced STAR exempted on average $60,1000 of  the value of  a senior citizen’s primary home in New York.

·         Under the STAR program, the state  gave each taxpayer a rebate check, according to New York school-tax relief Web site. The STAR rebate money could be used for medical expenses or anything else. 

·         Each municipality set its own exemption rates. For example, Syracuse offers taxpayers a $17,890 tax-exemption under the Basic STAR program while Spafford offers $41,220 — the highest in Onondaga County. Cities can also determine how residents calculate their taxable income with the addition of other exemptions.

That ability of local government to set the exemption rate is how Miner — as a member of the Common Council — was able to affect the state-run program and its exemptions for senior citizens. She drafted and helped persuade the Common Council to pass a measure that allowed senior citizens to deduct prescription drugs costs that health insurance did not cover from their taxable income. Seniors could not have a gross income of more than $24,000 to qualify for Miner’s exemption. This ordinance was passed on Feb. 7, 2005, according to information provided by Joyce Parker, deputy city clerk.

Conclusion:

The statement on Miner’s Web site is poorly worded and confusing. “To cover the cost of their medical expenses,” sounds like the legislation will give seniors extra money in their rebate check. The legislation allows seniors to deduct prescription drug costs from their taxable income — but it does not actually cover medical costs. Also, by saying “drafted and passed” STAR Exemption legislation, the wording suggests Miner was involved in the original drafting of the state program. Miner has never been a state representative. When contacted by Democracywise, Miner’s campaign manager, Lindsay McCluskey, said Miner’s Web site’s language was a bit confusing and the campaign would consider changing it. 

(Abram Brown is a dual major in history and magazine journalism.)

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