By Tribune-Review

Published: Sunday, February 3, 2013, 9:00 p.m.
Updated: Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Unaffordable for seniors

In response to the “Sense & seniors' taxes” item about Unity Township in “Greensburg Tuesday takes” (Jan. 22 and TribLIVE.com): Younger homeowners can supplement their income by working overtime or a second job; it is difficult for someone over age 75 to do so, as many have health problems.

Many senior citizens live on an income below the poverty level if their only income is Social Security.

Most of these senior citizens purchased their homes 45-plus years ago, never dreaming they could lose them during their “golden years” because they had to choose between paying property taxes or paying for necessities such as medication, home repair or utility bills.

People seem afraid that wealthier seniors, such as Arnold Palmer, would also benefit from the change in the property-tax law. So what? There aren't that many in Westmoreland County who are as affluent as he is and he probably donates more in a year than most of the senior citizens in Unity pay in property taxes.

Municipal and school property taxes should be abolished and replaced by increased sales and earned-income taxes, as the wealthier among us are in a better position than our senior citizens to afford the additional tax burden.

Beverly J. Myers

Mt. Pleasant Township

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