Because of concerns for residents who may face unemployment from business shutdowns resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, Salisbury Township officials are relaxing some deadlines for payments to the township.

“We understand that people have hardships. We have the option of setting up a payment plan,” Salisbury Township Business Administrator Paul Ziegenfus said.

Payment plans for anyone who has a hardship will be provided by the township utility billing clerk.

“We extended the water and sewer bills payment deadline,” Ziegenfus said in a phone interview with The Press after the April 9 board of commissioners’ meeting.

The net payment, due at the end of April, is extended to May 10. The penalty for late payment is reduced from 25 percent to 10 percent.

Meanwhile, the impact of the business downturn and unemployment on the township’s 2020 finances remains to be seen.

“We don’t know what the effect will be, but there will be far-reaching consequences. Our 2021 budget will be impacted,” Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich said.

When asked by The Press in a phone interview after the April 9 commissioners’ meeting if the township administration anticipates furloughing township employees, Bonaskiewich, said, “We’re not looking at furloughs. I’m hoping 2020 will not be impacted.”

Of the coronavirus impact on tax revenue generated by businesses and working residents in the township, Ziegenfus said, “So far, we’ve been in line with EIT [earned income tax] and local services.”

The EIT is 1 percent. The local services tax is $52 annually.

Ziegenfus said township revenue from deed transfers, known as the realty transfer tax, increased $25,000 in March year-to-date.

“We had a good March. I don’t know if the second quarter will be impacted,” Ziegenfus said.

“We’re getting taxes coming in,” Ziegenfus said.

May 15 is the discount period deadline when, typically, 90 percent of township residents pay.

“I will be interested to see if that happens by June,” Ziegenfus said.

The disaster emergency declaration approved by township commissioners at the April 9 meeting allows township officials to apply to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency in an attempt to recoup costs incurred by the township as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Those costs include $7,217 to purchase computers so four township administration employees can work from their homes.

The township policy of closing the administration building and holding meetings via Zoom was no mere exercise in good citizenship.

“We had two township employees who tested positive [for COVID-19]. They are recovering,” Bonaskiewich told The Press.

The emergency declaration approved by commissioners was retroactive to March 18 when board of commissioners President Debra Brinton signed it.

The declaration gives Bonaskiewich the authority to make decisions without commissioners’ approval.

Commissioners canceled the April 23 township meeting.

The next scheduled board of commissioners’ meeting is 7 p.m. May 14, again via Zoom.

April meetings canceled include zoning, planning and environmental advisory council.

The May 5 zoning hearing board and May 12 planning commission meetings are canceled.

The next scheduled zoning meeting is June 2.

The next scheduled planners’ meeting is June 9.