The City of Duncan and the Municipality of North Cowichan are advising property owners that they are still responsible to have their property tax payments received at City Hall in Duncan or at the municipal hall in North Cowichan by the end of the working day on July 4, regardless of any disruptions in postal service.
Homeowner grant applications and tax-deferment program applications and renewals are due at the same time.
The warning comes as workers at Canada Post are threatening to strike as of July 2.
All unpaid property taxes, in Duncan will be subject to a five per cent penalty after July 4, and a further five per cent after Sept. 1
In North Cowichan, a one-time penalty of 10 per cent will be added after July 4.
Talitha Soldera, Duncan’s finance director, said people have a few options.
She said there are secure drop boxes for after-hour drop offs in the front and rear of city hall, and people can pay in person at city hall during working hours or online.
“People can also post-date their cheques and get them in the mail well before July 2,” Soldera said.
North Cowichan’s Michelle Wright said there is also a secure drop box in front of the municipal hall, and people can pay their taxes during regular business hours or online.
“We need the actual form for deferred taxes, so that can’t be done online,” she said.