Urge Governor Cuomo to Push Back School Tax Deadline to June 11th
As New York State battles the unprecedented public health crisis posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic challenges faced by our residents and businesses cannot be overstated. Workers have been furloughed, jobs have been lost, businesses have closed, and economic activity has all but ceased. For many, rents, mortgages, car payments, utility bills and other daily living expenses have become tremendous burdens, especially to our most vulnerable citizens.
On April 14th, Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello joined with Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Hempstead Town Receiver of Taxes Jeanine Driscoll, Oyster Bay Town Receiver of Taxes Jeff Pravato, Legislator Steve Rhoads, Legislator Rose Marie Walker and Ben Jackson of Ben’s General Contracting Corp of Freeport to call on County Executive Laura Curran to issue an executive order to extend the County business license renewal deadline for the payment of licensing fees in the County. Further, they urged Governor Andrew Cuomo to push back the School tax payment deadline from May 11th to June 11th.
Every two years, over ten thousand general contractors, trades, plumbers and others pay a licensing fee to the County to continue to work in Nassau County. Since the economic activity in the State has shut down due to the COVID-19 health crisis, and non-essential construction is on hold during Governor Cuomo’s NY PAUSE policy, many of these businesses have no income. They cannot afford to pay to renew their licenses as long as the economic shutdown is still going on. By extending the deadline to collect these fees to 30 days after whenever NY PAUSE ends, businesses will get additional time to gather the funds to pay. The County will still collect the fees, just later on.
Legislators and Town lawmakers are also calling on Governor Cuomo to extend the deadline to pay property and school taxes from May 11th to June 11th. During the current health crisis, and the shutdown of most economic activity in the State, many residents do not have an income and cannot afford their taxes at this time. Many have been laid off from their jobs, and just recently, it was reported that the number of people filing for unemployment benefits have skyrocketed.
Town of Hempstead Receiver of Taxes Jeanine Driscoll offered the following statement: “Extending the property tax payment deadline is a concrete step Governor Cuomo can take to protect the well-being of homeowners by allowing them more time to focus on the health and safety of their families and loved ones during this period of uncertainty.”
Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello offered the following: “While residents are dealing with this health crisis, they are also dealing with a second crisis in the closing of all economic activity and the loss of jobs. It would be wrong to continue to expect businesses who can’t work, and homeowners who have no income, to pay their property and school taxes and licensing fees at this time. We need to postpone payment until after this crisis so that people can recoup their finances and get back on their feet.”