UPDATE April 3, 2020: Property tax deadline in San Francisco moved to May 4. Read about our win.

March 23, 2020

Governor Gavin Newsom
1303 10th St Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Governor Newsom:

Thank you for your fast and decisive action during the COVID-19 crisis to order all Californians to shelter at home. Your leadership will save many lives.

We are also grateful the state income tax filing and payment was moved to July. This will give us a chance to survive financially. 

Unfortunately, many Californians still face a looming April 10 property tax bill that will be hard for struggling homeowners and small businesses to pay during the coronavirus pandemic shutdown.

County treasurers and tax collectors — even the California Board of Equalization — say they can’t do anything because the April 10 due date is state law. Absent an emergency bill passed by legislators, we are asking you as governor to take bold action and push back the property tax filing and payment date.

Please expand your March 12th Executive Order that delays the deadline for state tax filing to include property taxes, and move the property tax payment to July in line with when state income taxes are now due.

Worthy measures have already been taken to help renters and small businesses affected by the coronavirus crisis. Homeowners comprise about 55 percent of California’s population and they deserve relief.

Newer homeowners are especially at risk. They are paying market rate property taxes and are already stretched to afford their first home. Many middle income families and immigrants who have invested their life savings in a home are at risk as the coronavirus shutdown has severely impacted their source of livelihood.

Homeowners should pay their property taxes by April 10 if they can, because the funds are needed for government services. But the state should move the payment date to give struggling homeowners relief.

At the very least, please use your executive order to allow county treasurers and tax collectors to automatically waive property tax penalties until July.

San Francisco Treasurer Jose Cisneros issued a March 20 statement that instructed homeowners who can’t pay to submit an online penalty waiver request. But it relies on an existing waiver process with risky caveats: “The waiver review process may take up to six weeks. Unpaid balances will continue to accrue additional penalties and interest which are the responsibility of the taxpayers should the waiver request be denied.”

I’m writing on behalf of more than 450 homeowners who are my neighbors in San Francisco. They will have a hard time making the April 10 property tax payment, especially those who have lost their jobs.

They have signed a petition asking elected officials to do what they can to give homeowners a remedy.

The petition asks:

• The governor to provide relief to homeowners.

• The California Board of Equalization to take action.

• State legislators to pass an emergency bill, if necessary, allowing the date to be moved.

• San Francisco’s mayor, board of supervisors and treasurer to advocate for homeowners and urge state officials to act.

• San Francisco’s treasurer to automatically waive penalties on property taxes until July.

We are not alone in this request. Seven Democratic members of Congress from Southern California sent a letter March 20 to their own board of supervisors urging them to postpone property tax payments until July. The supervisors responded they have no authority under state law to change the due date.

That’s why we are writing to you. This unprecedented crisis requires unprecedented leadership. Please do what you can to help California’s homeowners. 

Sincerely,
Joel Engardio

Co-signed by 455 San Francisco homeowners
(Add your name to the petition)

Joel Engardio is a candidate for supervisor on San Francisco’s westside in District 7. Learn more about his views on local issues at engardio.com/issues