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fatlazyless · 02-16-2007, 11:36 PM

...from today's Feb 16 Laconia Citizen, letters to the editor.
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Let's let the elderly live in peace

A few years ago when I was a selectman, the town of Ashland called in an elderly man because he could not pay his property taxes. This man was in his late 80's and was proud. He had worked hard all his life. The town had worked out an agreement to take monthly payments but he had missed a few. He explained that his only income was Social Security and after he made these tax payments he was left with only $50 a month to live on. He said he had tried to find work, but because of his age, no one would hire him. He did have one job, but his car kept breaking down and he could not afford the repairs and the gas. The then Chairman of the Select Board, told him if he did not catch up on his taxes, the town would take his property. At this point the man broke down and started crying. I was heart broken and suggested to the other two selectmen to forgive his taxes. They and the town administrator said no. I was out-voted again.
Eventually, a few months later, he sold his house at a loss. After that, he lived in his car, with his dog, for several months with no relatives or a place to go.
This is what these tax increases every year are doing to the working poor and elderly. I urge the taxpayers of New Hampton to vote "NO' on the budget and other wasteful spending. Let's let the elderly live in town after paying taxes all their lives.

Fred Avery
Ashland
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How many of New Hampshire's elderly have to live in their cars on a freezing cold winter's night like tonight while our Senator Judd "Easy-Money" Gregg can win over 800 thousand lottery dollars and then get to pay ZERO in NH taxes? Do you think Senator "Easy-Money" is sleeping out in a car tonight?

02-16-2007, 11:36 PM	#34
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,866 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 303 Thanked 1,043 Times in 761 Posts	...our property tax strikes again: old man must live in car! ...from today's Feb 16 Laconia Citizen, letters to the editor. ................................................ Let's let the elderly live in peace A few years ago when I was a selectman, the town of Ashland called in an elderly man because he could not pay his property taxes. This man was in his late 80's and was proud. He had worked hard all his life. The town had worked out an agreement to take monthly payments but he had missed a few. He explained that his only income was Social Security and after he made these tax payments he was left with only $50 a month to live on. He said he had tried to find work, but because of his age, no one would hire him. He did have one job, but his car kept breaking down and he could not afford the repairs and the gas. The then Chairman of the Select Board, told him if he did not catch up on his taxes, the town would take his property. At this point the man broke down and started crying. I was heart broken and suggested to the other two selectmen to forgive his taxes. They and the town administrator said no. I was out-voted again. Eventually, a few months later, he sold his house at a loss. After that, he lived in his car, with his dog, for several months with no relatives or a place to go. This is what these tax increases every year are doing to the working poor and elderly. I urge the taxpayers of New Hampton to vote "NO' on the budget and other wasteful spending. Let's let the elderly live in town after paying taxes all their lives. Fred Avery Ashland ................................................. How many of New Hampshire's elderly have to live in their cars on a freezing cold winter's night like tonight while our Senator Judd "Easy-Money" Gregg can win over 800 thousand lottery dollars and then get to pay ZERO in NH taxes? Do you think Senator "Easy-Money" is sleeping out in a car tonight?