Grant County property taxes still due April 30

EPHRATA — Grant County property taxes are still due by April 30, but Grant County Treasurer Darryl Pheasant said his office is setting up options for property owners who have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.

People can apply for an extension to May 29, or to set up an eight-month payment plan. People who pay on or before May 29 won’t be charged interest. Qualifying property owners who use the payment plan will pay interest on the outstanding principal amount.

Two kinds of property owners are eligible for the program: People who own and occupy their residences and whose jobs were affected by the outbreak, and individuals who are the sole proprietors of businesses that were required to close due to the outbreak. Applicants must supply proof that their job or business was affected.

The application is available on the county’s website under the treasurer’s office tab.

Some counties in the state, King County among them, have extended the deadline for paying taxes for some classes of property owners, whether or not they have been affected by the outbreak. Pheasant opted to stay with the original deadline.

He said a delay in collecting revenue would have an impact on hospital districts, fire districts, school districts and other entities called junior taxing districts.

“They’re all dependent on this revenue source,” Pheasant said.

Grant County Commissioner Cindy Carter said junior taxing districts have financial obligations they have to meet, and while Grant County can loan money, it doesn’t have enough money to help every district.