Saratoga County residents were granted a three-week extension on their real estate tax bills, and low income renters and their landlords will have chance later this year to recoup lost rent. This is according to statements made by Saratoga County officials during a press conference earlier today.
While the conference focused mostly on the fact that students can return to playing contact sports as early as Monday, Board of Supervisors Chair Todd Kusnierz said the county also won the tax extension as part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Jan. 27 executive order 202.92.
“Saratoga county is the only county that I’m aware of in New York State that made that request [for the extension] and received that executive order,” Kusnierz said, adding it showed the county’s forward-thinking attitude.
“We’re considering all of the financial impacts in addition to the health impacts [of the pandemic] on our residents,” he said. He said the extension would help lower-income property owners pay their taxes. No penalties can be accrued during that time.
When the federal government created the second CARES in December, the law set aside $25 billion dollars for counties and cities with populations over 200,000 to help low-income residents pay their back rent. Saratoga won $6.8 million of that money in a federal grant.
“We applied and we were granted the use of $6.8 million for this Emergiecy Renters Assistance Program,” said Drew Jarosh, Saratoga County Treasurer. He credited Tina Potter, commissioner of the Saratoga County Department of Social Services for the successful grant application.
“This financial influx will greatly affect the economy of Saratoga County,” Jorosh said. “It’ll assist those that are most in need [and] eliminate some of the financial impact that this pandemic has had all over the county.”
Renters who earn less than 50% of what HUD terms Area Median Income for the county and who have experienced financial hardship because of the pandemic will be able to apply once the system is ready.
Renters will work with their landlords to apply for and receive the money, Jarosh said. Although the application website is not ready, he urged renters and landlords to find leases and proof of payments that were made.
“I encourage our residents to get prepared now,” Jarosh said.
The county must spend about ⅔ of the money by September and the rest by the end of the year, according to the grant. Jarosh said his primary concern is to get the money to the people who need it.