Hempfield Area School District taxpayers have until the end of the year to pay property taxes without being hit with a penalty.

School board members voted unanimously Monday to extend tax deadlines in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Taxpayers now can pay property taxes at face value until Dec. 31. A 2% discount period runs through Sept. 30 and a 10% penalty won’t be applied to taxes until Jan. 1.

District officials have been working on the resolution since July, board member Mike Alfery said, when Gov. Tom Wolf signed a bill permitting districts to extend a discount period or waive penalty fees on property taxes. Business Manager Wayne Wismar said officials met with tax collectors and worked out details of the resolution over the past few weeks.

“We, as a board, worked tirelessly at every meeting to make sure that we are taking care of the taxpayers,” Alfery said.

The resolution is similar to one Westmoreland County passed in April, which, at the time, gave taxpayers four additional months to pay county property taxes at a discounted rate. The resolution extended the discount period for property tax payments, which would have expired April 30, until the end of August.

Westmoreland County taxpayers also have until the end of 2020 to pay property taxes without a penalty. Hempfield Township quickly followed suit, mirroring the county’s resolution. Township leaders at the time said that about $4,000 was generated from a penalty fee last year.

Wismar noted the district’s extension gives taxpayers an additional month to secure a discounted rate compared to the county.

The full resolution can be read by searching for the Aug. 17 agenda at hasdpa.net.

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