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Interest on property taxes waived for duration of COVID-19 crisis (updated)

Mayor says it sends message of support to business community
2018-05-07 Timmins City Hall2 MH
Timmins City Hall. Maija Hoggett/TimminsToday

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, Timmins council has waived the interest on property taxes.

Council made the move, along with deferring approval of the 2020 tax rates and ratios, in its first meeting since the pandemic was declared. While there were three council members and select staff at city hall for the meeting, the other members participated over the phone.

For the duration of the crisis, interest fees, charges and penalties on property taxes and water and sewer will be waived.

Mayor George Pirie said waiving the interest "sends a message that we support the business community."

Last week, the Timmins Chamber of Commerce sent key recommendations to the city on how to alleviate the financial pressures on local business owners during the pandemic. Along with interest-free deferral of property taxes and water/wastewater payments, they suggested eliminating parking fees in business areas, cancelling development service department fees to stimulate construction, and cancelling business-related permit fees.

“The Chamber, this is a big part of what they have asked for,” said Pirie.

Coun. Joe Campbell supported the motion, and believes there's more the city can do.

“Because we are in unchartered territory right now and I think this whole thing deserves a good look at it, how we’re going to support our taxpayers through which could be some very difficult times going forward and I believe this is part and parcel of it, the waiving of the interest,” he said.

For people who pay taxes through pre-authorized payment or post-dated cheques, they are still being processed. If you need to defer the payment and are signed up for one of these forms of payment, contact city hall to ask to be removed. Service Timmins can be reached at service.timmins.ca or by calling 705-264-1331.

Council also deferred approving the 2020 tax rates and ratios. 

As long as the items are passed before the end of the year, director of finance Natalie Moore said there is not deadline for it. She explained the city rates are normally approved in March because the first tax bill is at the end of May. 

“I believe with the hardships that some residents in this town are facing right now, with job losses and the fact that we have no idea when these are going to stop with this COVID-19, that we should be looking at other avenues rather than passing on a tax increase at this time. I’m all for deferring this thing and I’m all for people sitting down and looking at how we can help. Our taxpayers are suffering big time and if you want an economic slow down, don’t put money in the hands of the taxpayers, take it from them,” said Campbell during the discussion to defer.