With many home and property owners facing significant financial burdens stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated governor-mandated economic shutdown, I have utilized my state of emergency authority as the treasurer of Spokane County to extend the local property tax deadline from April 30 until June15.

Hopefully this 45-day extension provides some measure of relief for those who have lost jobs and are facing economic hardships. I wish that I could reduce or eliminate the tax burden for those who have lost jobs or are facing hardships, but I do not have that authority.

The Legislature-determined tax season could not have come at a worse time, with the property tax bills that fund much of local government being sent out just as Gov. Inslee was ordering most of the economy to close.

I understand why the governor has taken these measures, but my office has also heard directly about the impact this is causing. From owners of now-closed restaurants who cannot pay their mortgages to local jewelers who have seen their sales plummet amid economic uncertainty, to owners of once-brimming hotels that now stand completely empty. Many have expressed concern about their tax bill and I am pleased that we can offer some small help.

Particularly hard hit are scores of private residential construction builders who are now prohibited from building homes while yet, in somewhat head-scratching fashion, Gov. Inslee has allowed construction work on public buildings to continue.

Following my “state of emergency” extension decision, taxpayers in Spokane County have no legal obligation to pay property tax before the new June 15 deadline. However, for those of you who can, I urge you to pay as quickly as possible during this challenging time.

The fact is your property tax dollars are what help pay for many of the local essential public services like law enforcement, fire services, county health, teachers’ salaries and much more. Unlike the federal government, your local treasury cannot print money to pay these bills.

It’s only right that as citizens face hardship, the government is going to have to tighten its belt too, and there should be vigorous debate about levels of government spending, salaries and associated tax burdens in coming months.

I spent much of my previous eight years in the state Senate fighting against wasteful spending and unneeded tax increases, and I know full well the policy battles that are to come as state, school districts and local governments whose spending has outpaced a decadelong booming economy are now going to have to face a new reality.

But those debates are for another day. Right now we are in a war with the coronavirus. It is a war that we will win, but just like the greatest generation who bought War Bonds to help fund that fight, paying your tax bill helps fund those on the front lines here in Spokane in this fight.

In the past week I have personally been calling individuals, an array of small businesses and many of the largest employers in our area to discuss the economic impacts of the shutdown. I have been heartened by their sense of community and resolve. Despite the extension, large local taxpayers like Walmart, Avista, MultiCare Health and many others have stated commitments to pay their taxes on time or ahead of schedule to help. So too have many individuals and small businesses. It is very much appreciated.

I feel confident about our public financial investments and the ability of local government to continue to have the resources to provide essential services and make bond payments, or I would not have extended the tax deadline. If you have been impacted by the virus or the shutdown and need the tax-extension help, you should certainly take it. However, if those of you who are financially able to pay do so as quickly as possible, it will greatly assist us in responsibly providing temporary tax relief for those who are struggling. We are all in this together.

Michael Baumgartner is the treasurer of Spokane County. From 2011-2018 he served as a state senator from the 6thLegislative District.