The Financial Impact of COVID-19 with Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner

FAQs

• Is Oakland County suspending property tax foreclosures because of COVID-19?

  Yes. Meisner said March 31 is normally the state-law foreclosure deadline for anyone with delinquent property taxes from 2017 or before, but he announced that the county would withhold from foreclosure everyone who is eligible and affected by the coronavirus crisis.

• What financial relief is available to small businesses in Oakland County?

  Meisner pointed to a low-interest Small Business Administration loan at about 3.25% and called for the SBA to offer those loans at 0% interest. He said he would ask the county to loosen restrictions on its microloan program, which goes up to $100,000, and was urging the presidents of major banks to provide relief such as forbearance on business loans for a couple of months.

• Should residents who can afford their property taxes still pay them on time?

  Meisner said yes: if you can afford it you should pay, because interest and fees get added and the bill is still going to come due. He said the relief is for people who have suffered a hardship, such as being sent home or laid off, or staying home to provide childcare after schools closed.

• How does Andy Meisner rate Governor Whitmer's handling of the COVID-19 crisis?

  Meisner said she has been pretty decisive and a steady voice of leadership, and that while she was confronted with very difficult choices, she has largely made the right calls. He said it is painful to limit gatherings and enforce social distancing, but the objective is to flatten the curve.