Melrose Councilors Push For Tax Deadline, Penalty Delays

MELROSE, MA — Two City Councilors have filed orders aimed at providing relief for taxpayers struggling amid the coronavirus crisis.

Councilors Shawn MacMaster and John Tramontozzi filed two orders, one which waives penalties for late payment of 2020 excise tax for 18 months and and another that extends the due date for residential and commercial real estate taxes, as well as water and sewer bills from the fourth quarter.

"As a community, we stand together in challenging times and this measure reflects the commitment we have to support each other, especially those most vulnerable to financial hardship," Tramontozzi said in a press release.

Under the order, late excise tax penalties wouldn't be introduced until 18 months after the 2020 excise tax was issued. It also wouldn't allow tax collectors to provide names of those paying late to the RMV. The due date was March 30.

"Some residents are no doubt struggling to pay bills in light of the economic hardship associated with the COVID-19 crisis," MacMaster said. "Putting food on the table and paying household utilities and other essential bills is hard enough during this time; but when you add an arbitrary tax with a rigid, regressive penalty structure to the mix -- one that disproportionately affects the unemployed, low-income individuals, and senior citizens living on fixed incomes -- it makes it all the more difficult for people to manage. This order is a common sense measure designed to alleviate some of the strain that our taxpayers may be experiencing."

MacMaster and Tramontozzi said residents who can pay their excise tax still should, since the money helps fund the city's public services.

Under the other order, the due date for the residential and commercial real estate tax bills would be pushed to June 1, and no interest could accrue or penalties be assessed if the bills are paid by June 30. The same would go for fourth-quarter water and sewer bills.