One of the warrants that will be brought up at my hamlet’s Deliberative Session this week is one that would extend the property tax break given to honorably discharged veterans – a snippet from the Laconia Daily Sun:
Veterans exemption
The warrant has a mixed 2-1 recommendation on expanding the veterans’ property tax exemption “to all honorably discharged veterans” with Grenier — himself a veteran — having voted against the change, saying he believes other veterans also would not want to shift their obligations to other citizens. Given the chance to reconsider his negative recommendation, Grenier said, “I thought about it a lot, and thought people would come out of the woodwork and lambaste me about it, but I haven’t heard anything, so I will stick to my position.”
I will be speaking out in favor of this motion even as it would result in a slightly higher amount of taxes for me; many put themselves in harm’s way in that many gave some, some gave all. This is all about respect and honoring sacrifices. I disagree with Rags (his nickname) with his outlook, here, and respectfully ask that, once again, he rethink his position on this issue.
I may create my own petition for next year in the same vein, as I have often written about it, that would honor those senior citizens that have been faithful in paying for the generations that have followed them. My aunt lived in Mattapoisett, MA most of her adult life. She called her sister (my Mom) one day with tears in her voice about a letter she had unexpectedly received from the Town’s Tax Collector. It read, in part, “thank you for your many years of devotion to the town finances. As you have now become a senior citizen, and with over 30 years residency in Mattapoisett, you no longer are responsible for paying the educational part of your property taxes; you have paid enough. Thank you” (or words to that effect).
I think that this is a wonderful idea.
