Newmarket's coronavirus financial relief plan to cost town $800K-plus

Program expands tax and water bill relief for residents and businesses

Yorkregion.com
April 30, 2020
Lisa Queen

Newmarket council has approved a financial relief program aimed at helping residents and businesses hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic, a plan estimated to cost the town between $810,000 and $930,000.

The “comprehensive financial relief program” approved April 27 is the second wave of support after initial measures to waive penalties and interest on the March and April property tax payments were first announced in mid-March when the town declared a state of emergency.

The program provides financial relief to those most affected by the global pandemic by expanding tax and water bill relief, including;

• No penalty and interest charges on property tax payments until Jan. 1.

• No penalty and interest charges for late payment of water/wastewater bills until Jan. 1.

• Reducing water and wastewater rates by 4.69 per cent beginning on May 1.

• Waiving non-sufficient fund (NSF) penalties until the end of June.

• Deferring the stormwater charges to November.

• No penalty and interest charges for all town accounts including development agreements, leases and sponsorships.

“It was extremely important for us to move forward with this financial relief program to help our residents and businesses who are most in need. Now more than ever we have to support each other and our community,” Mayor John Taylor said in a statement.

“If your finances are not significantly impacted by COVID-19, we urge you to please continue to pay your taxes according to the scheduled dates if you can. This will help the town as we continue to use our resources to support those who need it most.”

Property taxes paid on time will help the town continue to dedicate resources to those most financially challenged by COVID-19 and provide essential services like fire and emergency, waste collection and safe drinking water, the statement said.

Pre-authorized payments will continue to be withdrawn unless you withdraw by emailing taxes@newmarket.ca.

Those who withdraw would have to reapply to the program in the future.

The town has other programs in place to help the community, especially vulnerable members.

For more information, call 905-895-5193 or visit newmarket.ca/covid19.