Town announcing further financial relief measures for those impacted by COVID-19

St. Marys Town Council has approved further financial relief measures for residents and business owners affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The move follows Council’s March 24, 2020 decision to waive all penalties and interest charges on municipal payments for 30 days.

The Town will now allow those struggling financially to defer the May 28, 2020 interim property tax payment to June 30, 2020. Because property taxes make up the bulk of the Town’s annual revenue, the municipality is asking those that can afford to pay their taxes on time to do so.

The Town has also eliminated planned fee increases for child care, ice rentals and animal licenses. These fees were supposed to go up as of April 1, 2020, but will remain instead at their 2019 rates.

A further $300,000 has been allocated to a COVID-19 financial relief fund. Town staff are working to determine the best use of the funding to serve those hit hardest by COVID-19. A report outlining staff’s recommendations for the funding will be presented to Council on April 28, 2020.

“As this situation changes, so do the financial challenges faced by residents and business owners,” said Andre Morin, the Town’s Director of Finance. “We’re taking a flexible, phased approach to our financial relief programs to ensure they address the needs of our community.”

The Town is offering these new financial relief measures to support the efforts of the provincial and federal governments, which have announced a number of financial relief programs over the past several weeks.

“We commend the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada for helping to relieve the short-term financial stresses of citizens,” said Mayor Al Strathdee. “We hope that our new measures will alleviate some of the long-term economic burdens facing our community.”

Questions about the Town’s financial relief measures can directed to the Finance Department at 519-284-2340, ext. 214 or amorin@town.stmarys.on.ca. For more information about the Town’s response to COVID-19, visit www.townofstmarys.com/covid19.

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Contact

Brett O’Reilly | Corporate Communications & Events Manager
519-284-2340, ext. 432 | boreilly@town.stmarys.on.ca