Securing The Future Of

Senior Citizens In Newtown

To the Editor:

I was surprised to read in the Letter Hive last week that I suggested that senior citizens move out of Newtown if they don’t want to pay the taxes. That is absolutely false; anyone can look at my voting record and see that I have voted consistently against large budget increases. I have always tried to look at the “big picture” and have always felt that people who have spent most of their life in Newtown should be able to continue to live in their hometown.

Anyone who knows me knows that I would never suggest that our senior citizens move, and besides that would mean that my husband and I should start packing, since we are not that young ourselves! I would feel terrible if the day came when we could no longer afford to live here, and I would never wish that on anyone.

As a member of the Ordinance Committee I helped draft the Elderly Tax Relief Ordinance, which I wholeheartedly supported. Just recently we voted to increase the tax credits given to those who qualify. When we first drafted the ordinance, about $37,000 was allotted for the tax credits; that amount now is almost one-half million dollars.

Senior citizens are an asset to our community, and I certainly will do everything I can to make sure that they can continue to live here if they so choose.

Sincerely,

Peggy Baiad

Legislative Council, District 2

4 Budd Drive, Newtown                                                     July 25, 2003