Despite a delayed deadline for property taxes, it appears most Chatham-Kent residents have opted to pay what they owe ahead of the original due date.
Municipal officials put out a reminder Wednesday afternoon that the second installment of Chatham-Kent's interim property tax billing is due on July 10.
This comes after an April 6 council meeting when councillors voted in favour of deferring the tax due date from May 1 to July 10 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its financial impacts.
However, as of May 1, $74.9 million of the $93 million that would have been due by the former date had already been paid. This represents 80.5 per cent of the taxes that would have been due had the date not been pushed back.
By comparison, during the same period in 2019 when taxes were due on May 1, 92.8 per cent of taxes had been paid on time.
Gord Quinton, chief financial officer for Chatham-Kent, said putting off paying property taxes was probably not the preferred option for many residents.
"My opinion [is] that the majority understand that taxes are still eventually due and it is easier for most to make the payment if they could and not have to have three due dates in the last half of 2020," said Quinton. "Of the ones that did take up the deferral, it has allowed the businesses and residents to apply for federal and provincial COVID-19 assistance programs that are now beginning to flow and has now allowed the Stage 2 openings to occur so that they can start up operations and slowly bring their staff back."
Municipal buildings are currently not open to the public to process tax payments. As a result, payment options include pre-authorized payment, telephone or internet banking, payment at a bank, payment through a mortgage company, mail or through the dropbox at any municipal centre including the Civic Centre in Chatham.
Several other changes have been applied in the municipality as a result of the pandemic. The Chatham-Kent PUC has not charged interest for any of its customers on 2020 arrears and will continue to do so for residential customers until June 17.
In addition, the due date for payment of business licenses, dog tag fees, loan agreements, CIP agreements, and accounts receivables has been moved to June 30. Late payment charges will also be waived until that date.
Inquiries on tax accounts or payment processes can be directed to 519-360-1998 or ckar@chatham-kent.ca. The due dates for the final billing are September 11 and November 2.