Our View: Taking Care Of Our Own

Somehow, it is not surprising to learn that an elderly Chatham resident has fallen so far behind on property taxes that the current $65,000 due will likely balloon to $100,000 in just a few years time. Many long-time residents have faced the prospect of being land rich but cash poor, especially in the past half dozen years as real estate prices have skyrocketed.

 Many years ago, local towns took care of their own. Chatham had its own welfare board and appropriated money annually to pay for medical care and other expenses that seniors, disabled residents and others needed but could not afford. The state and federal government gradually assumed those “welfare” costs until taking over the system completely in the late 1960s.

Today there are few mechanisms to assist low-income or disabled seniors experiencing financial difficulties. The Lower Cape Outreach Council, the Chatham Ecumenical Council Helping Prevent Homelessness, Harwich Ecumenical Council for the Homeless and St. Vince de Paul Society can help pay utility bills and unexpected expenses; the Family Pantry of Cape Cod and local councils on aging provide access to food; and other agencies assist with other specific issues. But no organization can pick up a $65,000 tax bill that is subject to interest rates many would consider usurious.

Town counsel has ruled that the petition town meeting article submitted by Seth Taylor to pay the residents’ back taxes runs counter to the state constitution and would likely be ruled illegal by the Attorney General, even if approved by voters. It’s simply not a good idea to use taxpayer funds to pay an individual’s property taxes, no matter how deserving that person may be of assistance.

Another petition article submitted by Taylor that asks town meeting to accept a state statute that establishes a fund to help pay the taxes of low-income or disabled elderly citizens is a more sensible approach. Taxpayers can opt whether to donate to the fund, and a committee would review expenditures to ensure that they are justified. In a way, it harkens back to the days when town officials knew that when a resident was experiencing hard times and had resources to help out. “Taking care of our own” is how it would have been justified. Given today’s financial pressures, including but not limited to the rising cost of living and high real estate costs, that’s a compassionate approach we would do well to resume.