Tax Breaks Without A

Means Test Is A Bad Idea

To the Editor:

Property tax reduction for those over 65 without a means test is very unfair to the other taxpayers of Newtown and will increase their taxes. It is bad public policy for several reasons.

Those that moved here many years ago have seen their property values increase dramatically over the past 20 years. They and their families have profited significantly because of the excellent schools bought by taxes and by the public policies of the town. Those who moved here recently knew their tax rate and chose to move here based on their needs. I’ll bet they are paying the same or less than where they came from.

I am paying the same property taxes as I did when I moved to Newtown in 1977; that is, about 1.5 percent of the selling price of my home. Each year house prices and taxes went up. Each taxpayer can check their tax rate accordingly and the tax rate of family and friends in other towns and make comparisons.

When a special interest group pays less, the rest pay more, or others receive less services. These inequities become more pronounced over time as can be seen in towns who have a differentiated tax base. The argument that some “save” the town money because they don’t use services such as education is specious. Education is used by only 25 percent to 33 percent of our taxpayers. However, excellent education is a major factor in home values and the lifeblood of a community. Retired folk have proved too many times that they don’t want their taxes raised even when it is important. Too good a tax deal for seniors without a means test is not in the town’s best interest.

There are several ways to reduce one’s taxes without asking the rest of us to pay the freight. The arguments for tax relief without a means test sound reasonable until one thinks about their immediate and long-term consequences. I trust the Board of Selectmen sees these arguments of the Elderly Tax Relief Committee as not in the best interests of all of the citizens of Newtown.

Yours truly,

Paul B. Dohrenwend

October 11, 1999