Official: NYC mayor can't rescind tax rebate alone

The city's top budget official says Mayor Michael Bloomberg would need to get City Council approval to cancel the popular rebate.

The mayor had proposed canceling the checks as a way of saving the city $256 million.

Bloomberg has contended that he did not need the council's approval. But his budget director, Mark Page, said during a Council Finance Committee hearing on Monday that council approval was required.

The rebates--which have widespread council support--originally were scheduled to be mailed last month to more than 600,000 homeowners.