With thousands out of work, the call for New York to push back collecting property taxes has grown.
For many homeowners on Long Island, taxes are due soon, despite a swift economic downturn brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
Some, like Jacqueline Rudman of Smithtown, recently received a reminder postcard that their property taxes were due. Normally that wouldn't be a surprise, but she says after state and federal governments pushed back deadlines, why hasn't the town?
"I was quite surprised that there was no relief from the town for homeowners," says Rudman.
Some town supervisors on the island are calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to push back tax deadlines from next month to the end of August, without penalty or interest for many residents who have been furloughed, laid off, or just don't have any income coming in.
The Suffolk County Supervisor's Association is behind the call, similar to how the state and federal income tax deadline was pushed.
"In Smithtown, our taxes are high, so I think it's imperative, and hopefully the county executive and governor will agree that at least, being that many people are out of work right now," says Smithtown Town Supervisor Edward R. Wehrheim. "And they're going to need that relief to stay solvent."
The tax payment delay plan would only affect those who pay their taxes separately and are not held in escrow by a mortgage company.
News 12 asked Gov. Cuomo for comment, but has not heard back.