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COURT HOUSE – Two weeks ago, Middle Township Committee sought to lower the delinquent tax interest rate to zero for 30 days after the end of the normal ten-day grace period. That meant that the May 1 property tax payment had its ten-day grace period and an additional 30 days, during which the taxpayer would be officially delinquent but no interest penalty would be applied if the tax was paid in that period.
The action was the only way the municipality, which has limited authority over tax payment schedules and penalties, could provide relief during a period of economic uncertainty.
The governing body May 4 rescinded that resolution because it was superseded by a subsequent executive order by Gov. Phil Murphy. Executive Order 130, signed April 28, enabled municipalities to officially extend the grace period for second-quarter taxes up to, but not beyond, June 1.
Middle Township passed a resolution setting June 1 as the end of the grace period when it rescinded its earlier resolution on interest rates.
