Property taxpayers in Westchester got some welcome news as now towns can now slash penalties for late payments.

Town and county property taxes and assessments are due April 30.  Officials say that date is set by state law and cannot be changed by county law. 

But on Friday, the Board of Legislators passed a measure authorizing towns in Westchester County to slash penalties by as much as 80% for late payments of county and town property taxes.

However, penalties on taxes paid from May 1 to  May 31 can be reduced to .5% from 2%.

And penalties on taxes paid from June 1 to July 15 can be lowered to 1% from 5%.
Towns can opt out of the penalty-reduction measure. The measure passed by a bi-partisan vote of 14-3.

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