Applauds Greater Use of Flexibility to Those Impacted by COVID-19
COSTA MESA – The OC Treasurer-Tax Collector is now directing homeowners, small business owners or other property owners who have experienced significant and demonstrated economic hardships due to COVID-19, to request a penalty cancellation. Cases will be decided on a case-by-case basis. Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris released the following statement applauding the Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector on these immediate actions to provide relief on property taxes:
“I would like to thank OC Treasurer-Tax Collector Shari L. Freidenrich for harnessing the flexibility of current state law to waive penalties for our constituents who are unable to pay property taxes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. I have been directly working with her and her office and am pleased with this outcome. Taxpayers unable to pay their property taxes by April 10th because of the COVID-19 pandemic, should be granted every form of relief available.
COVID-19 is an unprecedented crisis. Governor Newsom smartly issued an early "stay at home" order to protect the health and wellbeing of all Californians. While Californians are doing their part to bend the curve, the pandemic has also created an uncontrollable disruption for our constituents and businesses. On April 4th, Governor Newsom announced that 2.1 million Californians have now filed claims for unemployment since March 12th.
I join many of my colleagues to urge constituents who can pay their property taxes on time to do so. As we all know, property taxes play a critical role in enabling our local governments and schools to function, particularly in this crisis. Nevertheless, I am pleased that OC Treasurer-Tax Collector Freidenrich will use the maximum flexibility of the law to provide relief from fees and fines for those impacted by COVID-19. ”
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