Dearborn Is Helping Federal Workers With Penalty Fees

DEARBORN, MI– The city is trying to help federal employees who live in Dearborn and who might still be recovering from missing their paychecks during the government shutdown Dec. 20, 2018 through Jan. 28, 2019.

Qualified federal workers may be entitled to some relief from the penalties and interest associated with missed tax payments or water bill payments in the City of Dearborn. They need to apply for the relief and take action by Feb. 28.

Upon the recommendation of Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr., and with approval from the City Council on Jan. 29, the following relief can be requested:

• Qualified federal employees can ask for a waiver of the penalties and interest for unpaid summer tax payments that were due on Jan. 14, if the taxes are paid by Feb. 28.
• They can also ask for a waiver of the penalties and interest for the winter tax payment due on Feb. 14, if the taxes are paid by Feb. 28.
• In addition, qualified federal workers can ask for a waiver of penalties for late payments of water bills during specific timeframes. The penalties can be waived for water bills due during the billing cycle of Dec. 20 through Dec. 31 and the billing cycle of Jan. 1 through Jan. 31. Again, payments must be received by Feb. 28 to receive consideration.

Residents who are federal employees must complete an application form and provide:

• Proof of owner of record of the property
• Proof that the 2018 Principal Residence Exemption (PRE) is 100 percent
• A copy of their driver’s license
• A copy of their federal identification badge
• A copy of their last pay voucher from the federal government that they received in December.

The application can be found at www.cityofdearborn.org.

Federal workers who believe they qualify for the waiver of penalties should contact the City of Dearborn’s Deputy Treasurer, Kathy Lindroth, at 313-943 –2934 before Feb. 28.

Image by Jessica Strachan