Help the tenants, council

Friday the 13th was a bad day. I received property tax bills showing increases of 21% and 32% on two rental properties. Our tax bills come with a threat of NO GRACE PERIOD. And they mean it. If you pay a day late or a dollar short, our local government throws down the hammer. A homeowner can eventually lose their home due to unpaid taxes. Who’s a scary “landlord”?

On the news that evening a City Council member said the council wants to ensure that no tenants are evicted because they lost their jobs due to the coronavirus crisis. I hope the City Council will put all the increased property tax revenue into a fund to pay for rent. Just for those who cannot pay due to this current crisis. Throw in the increase in sales tax revenue from our years-long economic expansion and it will be a pretty decent amount of money available to help tenants in need.

Will the council please offer help to tenants who are financially distressed and cannot pay rent? If a landlord cannot collect rent, they cannot pay taxes, mortgages, utilities, insurance, maintenance… The house will be sold off, and it will probably not be a rental any longer. If a landlord loses a house, the tenant loses a home.

The City Council must act as quickly as this crisis is escalating. Fight future homelessness now. I repeat my suggestion: The City Council should set up a fund from past years’ increased tax revenue to help tenants who lose wages because of this crisis.

Jerry Bishop

Chattaroy