HARRISBURG – Fresh off the heels of passing a new law that allows counties and municipalities to provide property tax relief to taxpayers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Scott Martin (R-13) introduced a bill today that would offer more flexibility for discounts and payment of school property taxes.
This week, the governor signed into law a bill that Martin authored to give county and municipal governments the option to extend deadlines for property tax discount rates to any date up until August 31, and waive any fee or penalty for late payments of property taxes if paid in full by the end of the year.
Martin’s new legislation, Senate Bill 1125, takes a similar approach to school property taxes. The bill would give each school district the option to extend property tax discount periods and remove penalties for late payments through June 30, 2021.
The bill would give school districts the power to help more taxpayers who are struggling financially in the wake of the COVID-19 public health emergency, Martin said.
“Many families are struggling just to keep food on the table and keep their mortgage paid as the coronavirus continues to create unprecedented challenges throughout the state and around the world,” Martin said. “In these unprecedented times, it is critical to give school boards the flexibility to offer a helping hand to local families by ensuring their property taxes can be paid on a schedule that makes sense given these extraordinary circumstances and the hardships that we all are facing.”
CONTACT: Terry Trego (717) 787-6535