TIMES, THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015 • 14 More After-School Programs For Kids City Secures $8 Million To Expand by Anthony Giudice After-school programs throughout New York City are getting a big boost with an $8 million investment in programs for middle schoolers announced last Wednesday, Jan. 14. Mayor Bill de Blasio and Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Commissioner Bill Chong stated enrollment in middle school afterschool programs reached 121 percent for the more than 75,000 city-funded afterschool seats available to middle school students. Starting Mar. 1, an additional 49 School’s Out New York City (SONYC) programs will add more than 2,500 seats and almost triple the number of current seats at non-public schools and community centers. These sites expand the 271 SONYC programs that launched in September 2014, which was the largest growth of afterschool programs for sixth to eighth graders in the city’s history. “Today marks a significant step forward on our path toward afterschool expansion for more middle school students across New York City,” de Blasio said. “With thousands of new seats added for our city’s youth at diverse non-public schools and community centers citywide, more of our parents and families can rest assured their children have positive alternatives during a key period of their lives.” Of the 18 school-based programs: eight are operated by nonprofits in Catholic schools across all five boroughs; five are in Brooklyn-based yeshivas; three are hosted by Islamic schools in Queens and Staten Island; and two are at Greek Orthodox and Seventh Day Adventist schools in Queens. Among the 31 community center-based programs: New York Tibetan Service Center will provide services in Astoria; the City Parks Foundation will operate programs at three centers located in city parks; and Sunnyside Community Services will operate a program for 50 -SEE YOUTH ON PG. 30- Gov. Pitches More Property Tax Relief City Owners, Renters Would Benefit by Robert Pozarycki New York City property owners could be in line for another property tax credit this year—and renters may also get a break this time around. The statewide, $1.66 billion tax relief initiative Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced last Wednesday, Jan. 14, at Hofstra University in Hempstead, L.I. will reportedly be a part of his executive budget for the 2015-16 fiscal year. Cuomo and the state lawmakers have until Apr. 1, the start of the state’s next fiscal year, to hammer out a budget. If the credit program is enacted, it would be phased in as the fiscal year progresses. Under the governor’s proposal, any homeowner making less than $250,000 per year would qualify for a credit valued at up to 50 percent of the amount by which a person’s property taxes exceed six percent of their income. As many as 209,000 property owners across the five boroughs would qualify for the tax credit; the governor’s office estimates the average New York City credit at $872. Broken down by income, anyone making less than $75,000 annually can receive a maximum credit of $2,000. Those earning between $75,000 and $150,000 could get a maximum credit between $1,500 and $2,000, while New Yorkers earning between $150,000 and $250,000 have a maximum credit of between $1,000 and $1,500. For example, if a homeowner making $70,000 annually, their six percent threshold would be $4,200. If their home has a $8,000 assessed value, the credit would be based on the $3,800 difference— meaning they would receive a credit of $1,900. The governor’s plan also includes a renters’ credit based on the estimate that 13.75 percent of annual gross rent is attributed to property taxes. Any renter making up to $150,000 annually whose defacto property tax liability exceeds six percent of their income would qualify for the credit.
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