Send Our Seniors Packing

With A Smile? No !

To the Editor:

I had a recent conversation about our out-of-control town taxes with Peggy Baiad, one of our Legislative Councilmen from District 2. The Newtown property reassessment and ensuing 30 percent tax increase for many homeowners was discussed with my emphasis on its severe impact on our senior citizens. Ms Baiad made a point I have heard before when she said, “They [seniors] shouldn’t complain about taxes because their property values have increased significantly. They always have the option to sell.” Not so Peggy.

People who take the callous attitude that our seniors should cash in the asset value of their homes and move somewhere else if they can’t afford the tax increase are being unfair and insensitive. Let’s look at the other side of the story.

1. Seniors who have lived in Newtown for many years have stayed here because Newtown is “home” to them. The residences where they live is definitely “home” to them.

2. The friends, relatives and neighbors to whom seniors are physically and emotionally attached are an important part of their lives.

3. The activities that the seniors enjoy here in Newtown, which occupy and consume their daily lives, are important and irreplaceable.

4. Most seniors have limited retirement income that has to maintain them for day-to-day sustenance. Tax increases on their homes have a significant negative impact on their quality of lifestyle.

5. Relocating a senior will be disruptive and unhealthy, even if the move is local. Most moves for elderly people expedite their demise.

6. Because our bodies are breaking down as we age, elderly retired people require more money for medical and personal assistance. This cost grows alarmingly and becomes disproportional in respect to their fixed retirement income which is lower than their working neighbors.

7. The cash value of a senior’s home will often be consumed to maintain a reasonable quality of life. It is the reserve needed if the senior(s) needs managed or nursing care.

8. Seniors who needs to tap into the equity of their home can do so with a reverse equity mortgage which ties up the property collateral value. They get a monthly check to add to their income but the amount is fixed for the duration of the loan.

9. Seniors require the smallest share of town services compared to families with children thus providing a tax bonus for Newtown.

The bottom line is that any property appreciation our seniors may have on their homes will, more than not, be necessary to sustain them as medical costs continue to increase far faster than inflationary pressures of our economy. Because our political leaders are inept when it comes to maintaining at least a 20 percent commercial share of total tax revenue (after reassessment, it dropped to ten percent), our senior citizens should not have to pay for this inequality.

I find it rather cynical for someone in public office to want to force our seniors out of town when they should be encouraging them to stay. I fear our elected officials have their priorities screwed up.

Barry Piesner

Newtown Property Owners Association

38 Underhill Road, Sandy Hook                                                                     July 16, 2003