PONTIAC — Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner issued a pledge on Monday that no one in the county will lose their property to tax foreclosure because of circumstances related to the coronavirus, including taxpayers who contract the virus and are required to self-quarantine or anyone facing circumstances relating to the virus and its broad impact.

“My pledge today is that no one in Oakland County will lose their property to tax foreclosure because of circumstances stemming from the coronavirus public health emergency,” Meisner said.

“I want everyone in Oakland County to focus their attention on staying healthy and preventing the spread of the virus, not on whether or not they could lose their property. The Treasurer’s Office has your back.”

The office has made several changes to help people facing hardship due to the virus.

It announced that anyone facing such a hardship will not face foreclosure this year and their property will be pulled from the process. This includes people unable to visit County offices to make a payment or to meet with the Teasurer’s team for a Taxpayer Assistance Meeting to work out a repayment schedule.

Payments will be accepted by credit card or check online at www.oakgov.com/treasurer.

The office and County courthouse campus are currently closed to the public for social distancing related reasons, but the Treasurer has an outside dropbox for tax payments that will be checked regularly.

If full payment is not an option for the taxpayer, the County Treasurer will offer repayment schedules or payment plans. Usually negotiated in face-to-face meetings in Pontiac, they will now be performed by telephone at 248-858-0611.

Processing fees will also be waived for delinquent 2019 tax statements.

“Our fight to prevent foreclosure includes and extends beyond those impacted by coronavirus. Given the challenges this pandemic will cause, I will not allow an Oakland County property owner to lose their home,” Meisner said.

His email is meisnera@oakgov.com for anyone who has questions on foreclosure prevention programs of the developing strategies related to public health.