WATERTOWN, NY — In response to concerns from local tax payers in St. Lawrence and Jefferson Counties, Assemblyman Mark Walczyk (R,C,I-Watertown) is calling on Governor Cuomo to issue an Executive Order to extend deadlines for those paying their property taxes in installments.
While the majority of taxpayers either pay their bills through escrow accounts or in one payment when bills are issued each fall, there are New Yorkers who work out payment plans with their counties due to medical, employment or other unforeseen circumstances that prevents them from paying their bill in full. Walczyk’s office has fielded a number of calls from elected officials and concerned residents asking about an extension to pay.
“People are struggling right now, businesses are worried about their future and the last thing we should be doing is forcing someone to make the decision of paying their property taxes or putting food on the table,” said Assemblyman Walczyk. “The Governor has used this executive power for this purpose before during the aftermath of a snowstorm in 2019. What people are going through now no doubt warrants an extension and I hope the Governor will act quickly so that we can take this burden off the minds of the property owners who are struggling. Extending the deadline to pay property taxes at least 180 days without penalty is the right thing to do.”
Other counties around the state are also seeking an extension. Currently, counties are allowed to work with individual property owners to coordinate installment payment plans through May of the following calendar year. Counties are looking to see this year’s deadline extended at least through June, if not longer. The last time the governor extended the property tax deadline through an executive order was following a lake effect snowstorm in early 2019.