Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner is calling on the county to change the law to make it easier for taxpayers to pay their county/town/fire district tax bills. Currently, taxpayers must pay the entire tax bill by April 30th. Local governments are not authorized to accept partial tax payments. If a taxpayer is unable to pay the entire tax bill in April they are assessed penalties on the entire bill.
These are difficult times for many people - especially seniors on fixed incomes and people who recently lost their jobs. Many people cannot pay their entire tax obligations all at once.
Feiner believes that the county should consider amending the law so that taxpayers would not have to pay the entire tax bill at once. "It would be easier on taxpayers if property owners could pay part of the bill in the spring and the balance later in the year."
Feiner is also suggesting that local governments be allowed to accept part of the tax bills if a taxpayer doesn't have the funds available to pay the entire bill. Penalties then would be assessed on the unpaid arrears - not the total tax bill.
Feiner is also proposing that the town/county/fire district taxes not be collected in April - the same month that federal taxes are due. Some people cannot come up with all their taxes the same month of the year.
What do you think about the above suggestion? E mail pfeiner@greenburghny.com. Your comments will be forwarded to county and municipal lawmakers