MARION – The Marion County Board is considering whether to extend a deadline for payment of property taxes because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We may have a problem as far as collecting real estate taxes from private homeowners and businesses,” Board Vice Chair Creighton Engel said during the session. “And even if the state does not address this, the county might have to start investigating either postponing the collection dates or some other form of relief like length of time to pay or whatever because we could potentially run into a major issue here.”
County Clerk Steve Fox warned the Board of the repercussions.
“Be real careful with that you guys because that’s how you fund your county,” told WBJD Radio.
Board member Steve Whritenour, the owner of the Greenview Golf Course, told members he had been contacted by several small businesses that were suffering under stay at home guidelines.
County Treasurer Gary Purcell said some county treasurers were asking their boards for taxpayer relief.
“Some of the treasurers are approaching the counties about late penalties and due dates and then they are looking to extending last year and making the tax bill later than normal to give taxpayers a longer window to make payments,” he said.
Currently, the first installment due date for property tax payments is July 30, with a second installment due date of Sept. 30.
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