Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Thursday he is proposing two measures that would provide homeowners hard-hit by Hurricane Sandy some relief on their property taxes.
The first measure would give owners of homes that received a red tag — indicating they need extensive repairs or are beyond repair — an interest-free grace period before they would need to file their city property taxes. Under the proposal, their taxes would be due April 1 instead of the usual date of Jan. 1. About 3,000 properties would be eligible for the extension.
The second proposal, which would need to be approved by the state legislature, would give homeowners a rebate on their property taxes worth about $700. Bloomberg said he would expect fewer than 1,000 properties to receive the rebate.
“These two tax relief measures will, taken together, provide some help for New Yorkers who really need it and need it now,” Bloomberg said at a news conference at a restoration center in Staten Island.
The City Council is expected to take up the tax extension proposal at its next stated meeting on Dec. 10 and Bloomberg said he will urge the state legislature to take up the rebate proposal when it convenes in January.
Reach reporter Karen Frantz by e-mail at kfrantz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.
