Coronavirus Prompts Emergency Alexandria City Council Meeting

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Alexandria City Council will consider several coronavirus response measures in an emergency meeting held by phone on Tuesday, March 24 at 7 p.m.

Items on the agenda include an emergency ordinance establishing processes for public meetings and other public procedures during the coronavirus outbreak; temporary suspension of penalties and interest on restaurant meals taxes, hotel and short-term homesharing taxes, and business license taxes; resolutions to change filing deadlines for business personal property taxes and elderly and disabled tax relief applications; and a resolution allowing the city manager to apply for grants.

The emergency ordinance allows the City Council and other public bodies to hold virtual meetings without a quorum, or minimum number of members physically present for decisions to be made. Items on the agenda would allow continuity of government during the coronavirus emergency. Virtual meetings would be open to electronic participation by the public with public comments provided by phone or other electronic means during the meeting.

The moratorium on penalties and interest of certain taxes will allow extended time for businesses to make these payments. The city anticipates up to $4 million in transient occupancy tax and meals tax payments, and around $500,000 in quarterly business, professional and occupational license tax payments could be deferred from the current fiscal year to the 2021 fiscal year starting on July 1.

The current deadline for tax relief applications under the city's Elderly and Disabled Tax Relief program is April 15. City Council will consider extending the deadline to July 1, allowing residents more time to prepare the application. The extra time accounts for social distancing and reduced business operations affecting residents' ability to get help from relatives, accountants or others on the application. Around 900 residents currently get tax relief through the program.

The business personal property tax return is due on May 1, and City Council will consider extending the deadline to July 1. Nearly 8,000 businesses file this tax return to identify personal property (furniture, fixtures, and equipment) that are taxable with a payment deadline of Oct. 5. There is no consideration yet for changing the Oct. 5 payment deadline.

Lastly, City Council will vote on whether to allow the city manager to apply for and accept grants during Alexandria's emergency declaration. The city manager could go forward with grant applications only when deadlines need to be met before City Council could formally approve the application.

The full emergency meeting agenda is available here. The meeting will be available live online, on Comcast Channel 70 in Alexandria, or by phone at 800-369-3102 with passcode 6274065#. Members of the public can speak on agenda items by following instructions provided on the phone line during the meeting.

SEE ALSO:

• Coronavirus Cases Up To 9 In Alexandria, Restrictions To Begin
• Virginia Coronavirus Updates: Things To Know For Week Of March 22