MARS — With several council members attending by conference call, borough leaders voted to adopt Resolution 26 Monday night.

The resolution is the county's plan to extend the payment deadline for county property taxes paid at face value from June 30 to Nov. 30.

After Nov. 30, a 10 percent penalty fee would be implemented on top of the face-value payment.

According to council President Mike Fleming, the county provided recommendations for a formal proposal designed to help residents who are dealing with the economic ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic.

The county, which formally approved the extension April 29, has asked municipalities to vote individually to extend the payment period.

Mars council members unanimously voted to do just that.

“It would seem to me that it would be helpful to people,” Fleming said.

Renea Pomeroy, tax collector for the borough, said she doesn't know exactly how the county will make up for potential monetary losses that might stem from the face-value payment extension down the road.

“I'm not exactly sure how they're going to handle it,” Pomeroy said. “It will give (residents) an extra five months.”

Pomeroy said her original concern had been the county might chose to extend the discounted tax rate beyond April 30. However, that wasn't part of the face-value extension plan.

As previously reported by the Eagle, the county had reviewed several ideas for property tax relief during the pandemic. Extending the face value of taxes instead of the early payment discount period was deemed more helpful to residents.

Council discussed with Pomeroy how the extension would affect the borough after November. Pomeroy reminded council members all collections are turned over to the county Dec. 31.

“It has (some) impacts,” Pomeroy said. “But nothing that I can't work through.”

Resolution 26 holds for 2020 taxes only. It does not refer to those paid beyond the end of the year.