Two organizations that represent county officials across California said Saturday they plan to offer help for property owners struggling to make property tax payments due to the COVID-19 crisis.
The California State Association of Counties is the voice of California’s 58 counties at the state and federal level.
That organization, along with the California Association of County Treasurers and Tax Collectors, on Saturday addressed the COVID‐19 crisis and the April 10 property tax deadline.
“Taking care of Californians is our top priority, and counties, cities, and schools are burning through local reserves to do so. Any delay in payments beyond the April 10 property tax deadline, for individuals or businesses that can pay, will tip local governments into insolvency at a time when our residents need us the most,” the associations said in a joint statement.
“Counties will use all existing authority to cancel penalties and other charges for homeowners, small businesses and other property owners that are unable to pay their property taxes due to circumstances caused by COVID‐19 on a case‐by‐case basis. However, property owners who can pay or that haven’t been directly affected by COVID‐19, including international corporations and out‐of‐state landlords, still need to pay on time to keep critical government services running,” the associations said.
The associations said property taxes only go to local governments – schools, counties, cities and special districts – not to the state or federal government, and directly fund education, health care, hospitals, welfare services, fire protection and efforts to address homelessness efforts, to name a few.
“Delaying the April 10 property tax payment would take tens of billions of dollars away from local
government, create cash flow problems, and cause some to default on their loans, which would have significant long‐term effects on all local agencies in California,” the associations said.
Gov. Gavin Newsom responded on Saturday with praise for the commitment to cancel penalties and other charges for those with demonstrated economic hardship.
“This is good news for Californians. I would like to thank the California State Association of Counties and the California Association of County Treasurers and Tax Collectors for committing to providing economic relief for residents and small businesses facing hardships due to COVID-19,” said Gov. Newsom.
Associations pledge help for those who can’t make April property tax payments
- Lake County News reports
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