New Yorkers whose homes were severely damaged by Sandy would get an extension on their next property tax bill under a proposal by Mayor Bloomberg.
The plan, which would need to be approved by the City Council, would postpone payments due on Jan. 1 to April 1, interest free. The average property tax bill is $506.
Homeowners in Class 1 and 2 residential properties that received a red tag from the Department of Buildings would be eligible. Red tag properties require extensive structural repairs before they can be re-inhabited.
The city said more than 3,000 properties are eligible.
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City Council Speaker Christine Quinn supports the plan and said the council would approve the grace period.
The Bloomberg administration is also pushing the state to approve a measure that would reimburse homeowners for property taxes due this year to reflect homes' post-storm values.
Taxes for this fiscal year reflect May 2012 assessments. If the state approves that plan, more than 900 properties would be eligible, and the average rebate would be $794.
"We promised those Staten islanders and New Yorkers severely impacted by Sandy that we would help them in every way possible,” Councilman James Oddo said in a statement. “Providing some relief from property taxes is one way of fulfilling that commitment."
