BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The Bakersfield City Council is expected to vote on Wednesday on a plan that will offer economic relief to local businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The City has implemented numerous measures in response to the health crisis in order to reduce the potential exposure to and spread of the virus. Those actions, while necessary and effective in addressing the public health emergency, have also had significant impact on businesses in the City.
That's why the City has proposed the following measures in order to support Bakersfield businesses experiencing economic hardships due to the coronavirus emergency:
1. Suspending all delinquent fees and related interest for City charges for service and utilities (both commercial and residential), effective immediately, through June 30.
2. Deferring of payment of transient occupancy tax and waiver of late penalty fees, of collections made through May 31, delaying payment for that time period until July 1.
3. Automatically and uniformly enacting the extension of the payment deadline for Business License Permits to August 1. Traditionally these permit fees are due in July.
4. Formally delay the update of the City’s Master Fee Schedule by one calendar year from May 2020 to May 2021.
The suspension of delinquent fees and interest is only temporary. Balances for City charges for service will remain due in the future.
These actions will not affect the collection of sales or property taxes. Those taxes are not collected directly by the City of Bakersfield.
