ALBANY – New York state’s Senate Majority will introduce separate tax programs when the 2008 legislative session begins in Albany next week that could double and triple rebate checks for certain families and phase out school taxes altogether.

“Homeowners are being choked,” said Senator Thomas Libous (R-Binghamton) in a phone interview Thursday. “In Chenango County, I know it’s hard for people to make ends meet because of high school and local taxes. With this proposal, the Senate is starting the process of reducing that property tax burden.”

The first of the Republican-led Senate’s plan would double the STAR program (School Tax Relief) rebates in 2008 and triple them in 2009 over what property owners received in 2007. For property owners in Chenango County who make less than $90,000 annually, their checks would increase from $383 to $766 this year, and again to $1,148 next year, according to figures provided by Libous’ office.

The second proposal, called NY-STOP (Stop Taxing Our Properties) would phase out school taxes altogether for STAR eligible properties over the next five years. The $9.5 billion in lost school tax would be recovered through state aid, Libous said.