Have you ever looked in the public notice sections of this local newspaper when it publishes a list of homeowners behind in paying their property taxes? Ever wonder if many of these delinquencies belong to senior citizens whose fixed income can’t keep up with inflated costs of nearly everything they need to purchase?

Inflation is an insidious, hidden tax created by poor national economic policies that harm lower-income Americans the most.  Our national leaders have dropped the financial ball and created desperate living conditions for hardworking families, including senior citizens, who may be forced to make hard choices like being hungry, cold or delinquent in paying their property taxes.

Our county and township elected leaders need to step up to the plate to find viable, creative ways to keep our fellow, financially struggling residents and especially seniors in the homes where they raised their children.  

A portion of collected sales tax revenue needs to be allocated to fund Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). This revenue can provide either low interest loans or grants so additional fairly priced housing units can be created on existing properties. A win-win for all. 

Homeowners will have extra income so they eat regularly, keep their homes warm, and catch up on back-owed property taxes.

Several years ago, our state legislators passed a law legalizing ADUs. Let’s get these extra, fairly priced apartments available so hard-working families can continue to live in our rural communities without having to work two or three jobs. An extra bonus for using existing properties is to deny greedy developers opportunities to take away more trees and our rural identity.

John Maniec
Kauneonga Lake, NY