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Board adopts resolution closing in‑person tax payments and shielding late penalties during shelter‑in‑place
Summary
The Board voted to close the City Hall walk‑in property‑tax payment location for the period of the public‑health shelter‑in‑place order and to prevent the imposition of late penalties while the office remains closed.
The Board of Supervisors voted to close the City Hall walk‑in property‑tax payment location for the period of the public‑health shelter‑in‑place order and to prevent the imposition of late penalties while the office remains closed.
Supervisor Norman Yee and colleagues said the measure was intended to prevent taxpayers who cannot make an online or mailed payment from being assessed penalties while City Hall is closed. "We are unable to provide taxpayers the ability to pay their taxes in person," Supervisor Sheng Thao (note: appearing as Supervisor Yi in the transcript) said when introducing the matter, citing the April 10 property‑tax due date.
Nut graf: The resolution instructs the treasurer and tax collector's office to treat the date as extended while the City Hall walk‑in counter remains closed, and it formalizes an administrative approach designed to prevent penalties from accruing on taxpayers who cannot access in‑person services because of the shelter‑in‑place order.
Treasurer Jose Cisneros addressed practical details: his office continued to accept payments online, by e‑check and by mail; he urged taxpayers who can pay to do so. He also said the treasurer's office accepts hardship penalty‑waiver applications and will consider hardship cases in light of the COVID‑19 emergency.
In discussion supervisors raised cash‑flow and fiscal tradeoffs. City Controller Ben Rosenfield and Treasurer Cisneros explained that under the county's collection arrangements the treasurer forwards property‑tax revenue to other taxing entities and that penalties and interest are a component of cash flow. Rosenfield said delays could affect penalty and interest revenue, which the controller estimated at roughly $13 million for the remainder of the fiscal year if collections are postponed.
Ending: The board adopted the imperative resolution after public comment and a roll‑call vote. Supervisors and staff said they would continue to encourage electronic payments and to process hardship waiver requests for those directly affected by the pandemic.
