Those in Haines still owing property taxes that were due Nov. 1 now have two more months to make their payments.
The retroactive extension was granted by the Haines Borough Assembly in a unanimous decision during a meeting Tuesday night. The new official due date is Dec. 31.
The assembly’s action followed residents’ requests for the borough to provide a grace period for penalties and interest after some property owners saw a dramatic rise in their assessments and resulting tax bills.
No penalties or interest will be charged until the new due date despite the ordinance being passed two weeks after the initial deadline.
The ordinance was originally introduced by Mayor Tom Morphet with the verbal backing of three assembly members in a special meeting on Nov. 2. Another special meeting for the first public hearing of the ordinance followed on Nov. 8. Those special meetings were necessary for the ordinance to pass at the Tuesday night regular meeting.
The special meetings came at a cost to the borough, and so will the extension of the due date. According to Morphet, a special assembly meeting costs the borough about $1,000 to pay members and borough administrative staff. Additionally, borough chief fiscal officer Jila Stuart said the estimated lost interest paid to the borough following the ordinance passing will be between $3,000 and $5,000.