Speaker 0: Thank you. By your vote, we have given a unanimous do past recommendation to motion 2022 await and we will expedite that posthaste. And Council Madam Council Chair, I urge you to have a meeting next Tuesday so we might take this legislation up and with that we move to item 11 on today's agenda. Motion 2020 192. This calls for the County Treasurer to provide for payment agreements for 2020 property tax payers. Wendy Sue who will give our staff reports. Ms. who the line is yours.
Speaker 1: Thank you. Wendy Sidhu Council staff. I'm really hoping the sponsor of this legislation can actually see my video because I feel like he would appreciate it. So the materials for this item begin on page 453, but I'm going to actually move you to the analysis section that starts on page 424.
Speaker 0: Of your packet.
Speaker 1: Proposed motion 2020 0192 would request the County Treasurer to provide four monthly payment agreements for 2020 and 2021 for tax payers affected by the COVID 19 pandemic. Under state law, however, the Treasurer can only provide for payment agreements once a count because what's once a tax account becomes delinquent and so payment agreements can't actually be offered prospectively . The Treasury section does have a property tax payment agreement program in place for taxpayers who are delinquent on prior year taxes. There was a change in state law earlier this year that would allow the Treasury to expand the program to taxpayers who are delinquent on current year taxes. So that means that as of this change in state law this year, people who did not make their payment as of June 2nd, they would now be eligible to enter into payment limits are turning to page 455. The amendment section at the direction of the sponsor council staff has drafted a striking amendment as one that would request the Treasurer to identify those accounts delinquent on 2020 taxes as of June 2nd, 2020. The executive would also be asked to perform outreach to promote the delinquent tax payment program and also to look at considering waiving or subsidizing fees charged by the third party vendor that Treasury uses to administer the payment agreement program. Then finally, the motion also requests the Treasurer to report on utilization of the program by April 1st, 2021. The striking amendment is on page 13 of the amendment packet and I'd be happy to answer any questions. And Ken Guy and Carol Basler are here as well.
Speaker 0: So who does the legislation? Is the county able to do this without legislative action from the state legislature?
Speaker 1: Yes.
Speaker 0: We have. We have the authority. We need to do this now.
Speaker 1: Yes, there was a state law change that allows for counties to offer payment programs for current year delinquent taxes.
Speaker 0: Further questions? Council member done, Mr. Chair move proposed the motion 2020 0192 to speak to it. Council member Dennis moved to give a dubious recommendation to motion 2020 192. Council Member Dunn Thank you. And Wendy, I wish I could see you. I tried like crazy to do that, but I'm I'm a I'm a low tech man in a high tech world. So just barely able to hang on to the speaker phone. But I appreciate your patience. Um, I want to thank my colleague to work with me on this plan to provide property tax assistance to King County residents who, in a number of cases, many cases desperately need it. Over the past few weeks, we've worked really hard with the executive offices and the Treasurer to integrate a lot of their valuable input into the strike or that is before you. Today we are painfully aware of the financial strains caused by the COVID 19 pandemic, and we share the common goals of getting help to those who are most affected by our present crisis this year. And this is important to note this year, 28% more King County residents are delinquent on their property taxes compared to 2019. That's an additional 10,000 people who are not able to pay their property tax bill. And what today's striker does is focus on those taxpayers who are currently delinquent June one being the deadline, and offers more flexibility to the county treasurer in implementing a proposed payment program while maintaining the intent of the original motion. The amendment asked the county treasurer take steps, affirmative steps to engage those who are delinquent in the first half property tax payments for the June 2nd and offer them a payment plan for their 2020 property taxes. However, it leaves up to the Treasurer to determine the details of designing and implementing the payment plan. The amendment maintains the request that County Treasurer consider the feasibility of either waiving or possible subsidizing third party vendor fees that accrue during that are accrued due to that payment plan. So basically payment plans are already authorized under state law. They're are also something we already do. The county does not promote them or reach out in an effective way. And Ken may want to speak to the details of that, but there are vendor fees and other things that are involved. So I appreciate, again, my colleagues willingness to work with me on these, providing some flexibility for tax payers during these challenging times. And I also think that putting a payment plan together actually will end up generating the county more revenue because instead of people just abandoning their taxes for six months or a year until there's a leave , it gives them a decent payment plan option that they might be able to pay to amortize this debt. And I thank you for your consideration. Thank you for the further discussion. McCormick, would you please call the roll? I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Councilmember Dunn, will you remove adoption address one? I move as one? Strike Amendment. S-1 is before us saying no discussion and all those in favor of S1 please signify by saying hi are opposed. Nay, the ayes have it. S1 is adopted. Then see no further discussion. Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll?
Speaker 1: And Mr. Chair. Council Member Bellucci I Council Member about due to votes I Council Member Dombrowski I Council Member Dombroski votes i council member done.
Speaker 0: Hi.
Speaker 1: Council member downvotes i council member.
Speaker 0: Commonwealth High.
Speaker 1: School Member. Cornwall School Science Council Member Lambert I. Council Member Lambert Outside Sponsor Member of the Grass.
Speaker 0: Fire.
Speaker 1: Council member of the crowd outside council member Yvonne right. Are I council member or outside council member?
Speaker 0: While I.
Speaker 1: Remember I saw the light bulbs, I missed your chair.
Speaker 0: By your.
Speaker 1: Chair. The vote is nine zero now.
Speaker 0: Thank you. By your vote, we have given a do pass recommendation to motion 2020 192, and we will expedite that to full council a week from today. Madam Clerk, I believe we have no council members who missed any votes, so no need for reconsideration. Is that correct?
Speaker 1: Mr. Chair.
Speaker 0: All right. And Members, I will remind you before we adjourn, I will remind you, we have an Employment and Administration committee meeting that will immediately follow this. So the fun is not over. Do not hang up. Do not depart with that.
A MOTION requesting the county treasurer to provide for payment agreements for 2020 property taxes.