OBSERVER Staff Report

Chautauqua County officials are saying not so fast when it comes to the property tax extension.

County attorney Stephen Abdella notified the media Friday that the governor’s executive order extending the time to pay real property taxes due to a recent winter storm will likely not apply to Chautauqua County. “State law requires that the extension of time to pay must be at the request of the chief executive officer of the affected municipality,” he said. “While the executive order includes Chautauqua County, the village of Sinclairville and the town of Poland, it appears that none of the chief executive officers requested that the extension be granted.”

Abdella said the county will be contacting the governor’s office for clarification, and hopefully advise tax collectors early next week.

On Thursday, Cuomo issued the executive order extending the property tax payment due date in municipalities impacted by recent winter storms. The extension allows residents to pay their taxes without interest or penalty for an additional 21 days past the final date taxes are due.

The extension also was granted to Cayuga, Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties. Local municipalities include the towns of North Collins and West Seneca in Erie County; and the town of Ellicottville in Cattaraugus County.