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Property tax payment extension granted in Belmont County

ST. CLAIRSVILLE ­ Belmont County residents will have some extra time to make their property tax payments.

On Wednesday Belmont County Treasurer Kathy Kelich told commissioners second half of property tax collection past-due date will move from July 24 to Aug. 21

“We are sending out bills as a matter of fact (Wednesday),” she said. “We’ve held back on sending out the tax bills up until this point.”

She said there is now a box outside the courthouse for the public to drop off payments, since the treasurer’s office is fairly small and social distancing there can be difficult. However, the treasurer’s office remains open.

“We actually added in an alternative way to make payments,” she said. “They don’t have to come into the office … as well as using all the alternatives that we’ve always had available.”

The public is asked to refrain from making cash payments. Kelich said the box will be checked regularly.

In addition, she said anyone with a Wesbanco account is able to make a payment on their taxes via the bank. Mailing remains an option, as are credit cards.

“We’re taking it on a case-by-case basis, day-by-day, as we have on everything dealing with COVID, because it is new to everyone. … The state does not allow us to just remit penalty on everything, on late tax payments, so we have to take that into consideration,” she said.

“Additionally, we also have to look at the impact that it’s had on Belmont County residents, which we can witness with the closing of businesses during that time. That has had a significant economic impact, much harder to keep local governments whole during this entire time.”

Kelich said those who are still in financial hardship may arrange a delinquent payment plan with her office.

She thanked the commissioners for working with the plan.

“You guys have dealt with challenges these last few months,” Commissioner J.P. Dutton said.

“We hope that this tax collection will go easily, considering we are sending out tax bills six and a half weeks earlier to the due date. Normally we always send out four weeks prior to the due date,” Kelich said. “It gives everyone enough time.”

In answer to a question from Dutton, Kelich said the first half collection was completed before the onset of the pandemic and without issue.

“Providing that extra month, we thought, was a benefit to the residents of Belmont County, especially they who are trying to figure out where they are going to be at this point in time,” Dutton said, adding, “Things aren’t completely back to normal. … I think this decision ends up being the right one. I think it just provides a lot more flexibility for everyone.”

In other matters, guests included Richard Hord of Martins Ferry, who asked how the remodeling of a building on National Road formerly owned by The Health Plan was proceeding. The building will house the county courts and the prosecutor’s office. Dutton said work is proceeding, but there have been issues in receiving equipment and supplies.

“Manufacturers are way behind schedule and what they thought would be delivered in a timely manner is not occurring at this point,” he said. “That may end up causing us a slowdown. We’re evaluating that now in terms of what that means for the project.”

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