Coronavirus: Richmond Hill OKs ‘boldest’ move to extend relief measures to Jan. 1

Treasurer strongly encourages those who are less financially affected to continue to pay their taxes, even pay early if feasible

Yorkregion.com
April 2, 2020
Sheila Wang

Richmond Hill residents who are enduring financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic may delay their tax payments until Jan. 1.

In what several councillors described as the "boldest move" the city could make, council extended its previous tax and fee relief measures to next year in an effort to help residents and businesses mitigate the economic impacts of the ongoing crisis.

At the April 1 emergency council meeting, councillors decided to waive the penalties and interest charges for late payments of taxes through Jan. 1, 2021 and defer the water/wastewater retail rate increase of 7.5 per cent to next year.

Meanwhile, the city is also waiving the late water bill payments until Jan. 1, as well as waiving the $45 fee for returned cheques for the rest of the year.

Council voted 8 to 1 on the motion following a presentation delivered by treasurer David Dexter, who demonstrated the potential financial impacts of these measures on the city’s revenue.

The treasurer strongly encouraged those who are less financially affected by the pandemic to continue to pay their taxes, and even pay them early, if feasible.

Coun. Tom Muench attempted to amend the motion to allow the city to waive the penalties and interest charges for late tax payments until Sept. 1, but was overruled by Mayor Dave Barrow.

Regional Coun. Carmine Perrilli, who introduced the motion, said this is an "unprecedented action" taken at an "unprecedented time".

These measures were adopted two days after the neighbouring City of Markham extended its tax and fee relief measures from April 1 to Dec. 31.

Richmond Hill residents may contact the city at access@richmondhill.ca or by phone at 905-771-8800, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., from Monday to Friday.