Governor’s Executive order 9R concerning tax deferment

The Town of Chaplin shall participate in the same program as it previously did pursuant to Executive Order No. 7S, Section 6, no approval by its local legislative body or board of selectmen shall be required. Each municipality shall be deemed to have adopted the same program as previously selected under Executive Order No. 7S, Section 6 shall apply to tax deadlines and collection efforts for tax bills that become due and payable on January 1, 2021

Under Governor Lamont’s executive order 7.S each municipality was instructed to choose from one or both tax relief programs recommended by OPM. Plan A is a deferment program and Plan B is a low interest program. Please go to https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Office-of-the-Governor/Executive-Orders/Lamont-Executive-Orders/Executive-Order-No-9R.pdf  for the complete details on these programs.

During the April 9^th, 2020 Chaplin Board of Selectmen meeting the board voted unanimously to choose Plan A, the 90-day deferment program for all residents, nonprofits and businesses with the caveat that the Board of Selectmen will not require taxpayers to submit an affidavit proving eligibility because of financial impact due to Covid-19.  With that being said we are asking taxpayers to use the honor system and pay your taxes in July or during the deferment period if you are able to.

This deferment has the potential to create somewhat of a cash crunch for the town as our expenses do not stop, even if our tax income does. To carry Chaplin through this cash crunch period the town has a fairly heathy undesignated fund balance and along with the escrowed tax payments and the taxpayers that are able to pay their taxes on time, we as a town should be fine.  To also help us through this cash crunch we plan to defer town expenditures that are not time sensitive until April when the tax deferred payments come in.  Below is a brief summary of the deferment program but for the details please refer to the link above.  

“Deferment Program” 

Think of this program as an extended grace period program.  What is “deferred” is not the tax but rather the last day to pay without interest.  The deadline is deferred, not the tax.  Eligible taxpayers (All Chaplin Taxpayers are eligible per the Board of Selectmen) are entitled to defer their payment deadline until 90 days from the tax due date, instead of the usual 30 days.  

Chaplin is a semiannual town, so the next installment comes due on January 1, 2021. This plan covers installments that come due up through and including January 1, 2021.  So for the January 1, 2021 installment, instead of the last day to pay being February 1, 2021, the last day to pay will instead be April 1, 2021 (90 days from January 1) because the last day to pay is being deferred, or the grace period is being extended.

 I have tried to make this program as clear as possible but please understand that this is new territory so if I haven’t made this clear enough do not hesitate to call the Tax Collector’s office at 860-465-3037 email them at collectorofrevenue@windhamct.com with any questions you may have.  In closing, let me say that for this to work and to give relief to taxpayers that need it the most, for those of us that can, please pay your taxes on time.

LEGAL NOTICE

Warrant to collect all Real Estate, Motor Vehicle and Property Taxes with a mill rate of 32.50 for 7/1/2020 - 1/1/2021

COVID-19 UPDATE

The Town of Windham public works has installed a drop box outside the Windham Townhall for the convenience of all taxpayers who are looking to make tax payments through this time of "crisis".    

For your further information, we will be checking this box twice a day once in the morning and again before close of business. There are instructions on the top of the box for the taxpayers and we have also provided, at this time, envelopes in hopes no payments are dropped in that are not secure. We encourage no cash payments. 

FISCAL YEAR 19/20 MILL RATE:  32.50  

COLLECTION RATE:  FISCAL YEAR 18/19 - 98.6%

THE WINDHAM TOWN HALL ADDRESS & HOURS:

979 MAIN STREET

WILLIMANTIC, CT 06226

OFFICE HOURS: 

MONDAY—WEDNESDAY:  8 AM TO 5 PM

THURSDAY:  8 AM TO 7:30 PM

FRIDAY:  8 AM TO NOON

CLOSED ON THE WEEKENDS - WE DO NOT CLOSE FOR LUNCH!

 CALL:  860-465-3037 OR 860-465-3029

YOUR COLLECTION TEAM

ZAYNE R RING, CCMC:

collectorofrevenue@windhamct.com

AMANDA TASHEA, CCMC:  

deputycollector@windhamct.com

LAURIE LAMOT and RECHAL DOMINGUEZ:  

revenueassistant@windhamct.com