SPOKANE — County Treasure Michael Baumgartner announced on July 1 that Spokane County landlords and property managers participating in the Treasurer’s Office Landlord Property Tax Extension program will receive an additional extension through Sept. 30, 2021. The announcement comes in response to the Governor’s eviction moratorium bridge which expires Sept. 30. For most taxpayers, first half property taxes were due by May 31.
According to a news release, state law allows a county treasurer to offer an extension of property tax deadlines during a state of emergency declared by the governor. Originally declared on Feb. 29, 2020, the state of Washington has remained in a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Governor’s eviction moratorium has put an incredible burden on local rental housing providers over the last 16 months,” Baumgartner said in a statement. “In the same time frame, government has not done nearly enough to provide relief to these landlords and property managers unable to enforce their lease terms or collect rents to pay their mortgages, property taxes, and maintenance costs.
“I am again using my statutory authority during a state of emergency to provide Spokane County landlords more time to pay their property tax bills without accruing interest charges,” he added.
The governor’s eviction moratorium bridge runs from July 1 through Sept. 30, 2021. The proclamation phases in new regulations passed this year by the state legislature while restricting charging past unpaid rents and other fees as enforceable debt until new state programs are in place.
Taxpayers already participating in the Landlord Extension program do not need to take any further action. Property owners interested in more information about participating should contact the Treasurer’s Office at (509) 477-4713, by email at [email protected], or visit the Treasurer’s Office website at www.spokanecounty.org/treasurer in the “Your Treasurer’s Office” section.
In other news, the Treasurer’s Office announced on Tuesday, July 6, that is has reopened for in-person services on the first floor of the County Courthouse in downtown Spokane. The Board of County Commissioners passed a resolution at a special meeting held Friday, July 2, immediately opening the offices of the Treasurer, Auditor and Assessor. The re-opening comes following the lifting of various COVID related restrictions on June 30 by Gov. Jay Inslee, restrictions originally put in place in spring 2020.
Treasurer’s Office employees will be available to assist customers in-person during regular county business hours. The Treasurer’s Office is open from Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
“This is a great day for doing the people’s business at the Courthouse,” Baumgartner said. “Our office originally closed for in-person services last March due to the Governor’s orders. Grocery stores like Rosauers and other private businesses have been working to open their doors to full capacity for their customers. There is no reason that government should not be prepared to do the same on behalf of the public.”
Online services available via the Treasurer’s Office website and drop box payments will continue to be available for taxpayer convenience.
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