Hempfield supervisors waive penalty fee, extend discount period for property taxes

Hempfield residents will not be penalized this year for property taxes paid after August.

Township supervisors voted unanimously Monday to pass a measure that waives the fee and extends the discount period by four months. Now, property owners will have until Aug. 31 to pay a discounted rate, and Sept. 1 through the end of the year will remain at the regular rate, mirroring a similar measure passed by Westmoreland County Commissioners last week.

Typically, the discounted period ends April 30 and the regular rate runs through Aug. 1. Those paying after Aug. 1 would receive a penalty fee.

About $4,000 was brought in through the penalty fee last year, said township Manager Jason Winters.

Still, some property taxes are paid through escrows by mortgage companies, which Winters predicts still will be paid on time.

“Even though we are seeing a lower amount of property taxes coming in, mortgage companies will still come in normal,” he said.

Winters added, “Overall we are watching our budget. We’re seeing the revenue. Our main revenue driving force is the earned income tax and we’re down on our income tax because people are out of work right now. We are looking at our budget and if we have to make any changes moving forward … we will recommend those changes to be made.”