Assemblyman David G. McDonough (R,C,I-Merrick) is encouraged by the governor’s budget proposals that would provide school and property tax relief for homeowners in the state’s 2006-07 fiscal year.

“The governor’s proposed budget would provide property tax relief in the form of increased benefits to the STAR program and by promoting improved academic performance and efficiency in school districts,” said McDonough.

According to the governor’s spending plan, the School Tax Relief (STAR) program would see adjustments to its income and senior citizen eligibility limits. A new initiative, known as “STAR Plus”, would provide a school tax rebate to homeowners in school districts that refrain from imposing spending increases.

There also are initiatives to promote improved academic efficiency and performance in school districts. The proposals include additional Flex Aid to school districts that demonstrate improvement on achievement tests; academic achievement awards for outstanding educational performance and exceptional operational efficiency; cost efficiency incentives; and state and local partnerships designed to help school districts save costs.

“The brightest spot of the proposed budget is the governor’s continued commitment to community safety from sex offenders,” said McDonough. “The increased funding to civilly confine sexually violent sex offenders, for heightened DNA collection and to expand the cyber crimes unit would provide increased protection for individuals who are at the most risk from violent predators.”

The proposed budget allocates funding to create a state prison that would house the most sexually violent predators after they serve their prison sentences. It would also expand the state’s DNA databank, which would assist in solving crimes and have long-term crime prevention measures. Lastly, it would increase funding to the cyber crimes unit to assist the State Police in responding to cyber attacks and Internet-based crimes.