Office workers at the Lincoln County/Brookhaven Government Complex have fielded several calls this week from citizens concerned about late fees or other penalties on car license plates.

Lincoln County tax assessor/collector Blake Pickering recently announced that the tax office would be closed May 25 through June 2, due to a positive COVID-19 test for one of the office’s staff members. Because no one is in the office, phone lines are also not being answered.

Some people are concerned that they will be ticketed or charged late or other fees because their vehicle tags were due to be renewed in the last week of May, or if they have just purchased a new vehicle, but the tax office was closed.

Pickering addressed this concern Thursday.

“We will back up any penalties incurred during the time we are closed,” he told The Daily Leader. “We know it is extremely inconvenient but we will work with people in any way that we are able, as soon as we receive the OK from the Mississippi State Department of Health that we can return, which — if nothing changes — will be June 3.”

Vehicle tags for Lincoln County are not available for online purchases or renewals.