FREDERICKSBURG — The Fredericksburg City Council voted to cut a break to furloughed federal workers who live in the city.
At a meeting on January 22, the council voted unanimously to postpone the payment deadline for about 1,800 personal property tax bills for city residents that were due on January 31.
Under current city code, the Commissioner and the Treasurer can waive penalties and interest at the request of the City Manager or designee for a variety of circumstances due to issues outside of control, according to city code. Realizing the hardship the incoming bills may place on those furloughed workers, the council voted unanimously to postpone payment of those bills until February 28 for all residents.
Ward 2 City Councilman William C. Withers Jr. made the suggestion, which was supported by City Treasurer Brenda Wood.
“I’d hate to see a penalty put on people who are not working through no fault of their own,” said Wood.
Wood told the council before the motion passed that her office had been handling inquiries regarding payment of these bills by federal employees on a case-by-case basis, hearing from residents who said the furlough may affect their ability to pay these bills.
“When folks are in need it’s good to know we come together to help the average joe, the average citizen,” said Ward 4 Councilman Charlie L. Frye, Jr.
One member of the council, Ward 1 Councilman Jason Graham abstained from voting since he is employed for federal defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton. He is also one of the many federal employees that have been put on furlough due to the partial Federal Government shutdown.
Next, the council is set to take a vote on February 12 on an option to leave the lights on for federal workers who cannot afford to pay their power bills. If approved, residents won’t get their power shut off for late payment but they will incur a late charge of charge 10 percent of the balance owed.
While the Treasurer’s Office is allowed to extend the service cutoff date, she is not allowed to unilaterally waive the penalty fees, said Vice-Mayor William C. Withers Jr. That requires the approval of the city council.
The partial government shutdown has been ongoing since December 20. In the longest shutdown in U.S. history, 800,000 government employees have been either forced on furlough or are working without pay. While those employees will be reimbursed in back pay once the shutdown is over when the end of the shutdown will remain up in the air.
