Homeowner rebates in the mail

Although Mayor Michael Bloomberg tried to withhold the property tax rebate checks this year to help close the city’s budget gap, the $400 rebate checks are in the mail, and are expected to arrive in mailboxes at the beginning of the new year. Bloomberg created the rebate program in 2004, but announced last month that the checks wouldn’t be issued this year because the city could not afford to issue them. Only the City Council, however, has the authority to withhold the checks. The Council did not support Bloomberg’s decision to cancel the checks but did approve his 7 percent property tax increase, effective tomorrow.