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Town of Georgina extends property tax holiday to soften financial impact of COVID-19 pandemic

April 7, 2020

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By: Mike Anderson

Mayor Margaret Quirk and Town CAO David Reddon approved a series of measures on April 6 to assist residents and local businesses deal with the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both officials are currently operating under the Town’s Emergency Plan, which has delegated authority to them to make decisions without prior approval from Council.

These new measures include waiving the penalty and interest on unpaid property tax for 90 days, which is an extension from the 30 days initially approved by Council on March 24, for the April 27 installment of the interim tax bill.

Also, unpaid water and wastewater bills will not be transferred to property tax accounts, and a proposed rate increase has been waived by York Region and the Town of Georgina.

The Mayor and CAO have also approved a grant of $10,000 for each of the three Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), Keswick, Sutton and Jackson’s Point, to support their annual budgets for 2020.

This will result in the elimination of the annual fees that commercially assessed properties contribute towards the activities undertaken by the BIAs, according to a spokesperson for the Town.

Additional programs under the Community Improvement Plan grant program are being considered, although no details have been released yet.

An internal staff task force group has also been established to work with other York Region municipalities and South Lake Community Futures Development Corporation to look at funding opportunities that might benefit local businesses.

The Town’s Economic Development and Tourism Office launched an online form for local businesses that will provide up to date information and access to programs.

Local businesses can also email Town staff directly at ed@georgina.ca. To ask questions over the phone, contact Karyn Stone, Manager of Economic Development and Tourism, at 905-476-4301, ext. 2312.

Additional efforts to support not-for-profit organizations, particularly those located in Town facilities, are also underway, again details will be forthcoming.