Protect Union, Maine Seniors from Being Taxed Out of Their Homes

 

Petition to the Union Select Board and the Town of Union, Maine

 

We are asking the Town of Union to take action to protect seniors, retirees, and longtime homeowners from being forced out of their homes because of significant increases in property assessments and property taxes.

 

Many of Union's seniors have lived in their homes for decades. They raised their families here, paid taxes here, supported this community, and planned to spend the rest of their lives here.

 

But many are now retired and living on Social Security, pensions, or other fixed incomes.

 

When the assessed value of someone's home increases, their income does not increase with it.

 

A home may suddenly be worth substantially more on paper, but that does not give a retired homeowner additional money to pay a dramatically higher property-tax bill.

 

For some of our seniors, these increases could mean having to choose between property taxes and necessities such as food, heat, electricity, and medication.

 

Ultimately, they could be forced to sell homes they have spent decades working to keep.

 

Maine Communities Can Help

 

Portland, Maine has established a local Senior Tax Equity Program (P-STEP) that provides additional property-tax relief to qualifying older residents.

 

Maine law also gives municipalities options to establish certain local senior property-tax stabilization and partial-deferral programs.

 

We believe Union should investigate these options and develop a solution that works for our town.

 

Union does not have to duplicate Portland's program. We are simply asking our town officials to recognize this problem and determine what can be done locally to protect qualifying seniors and fixed-income homeowners.

 

What We Are Asking

 

We, the undersigned, respectfully ask the Union Select Board and the Town of Union to:

 

- Examine how the recent property reappraisal is affecting Union's seniors and fixed-income homeowners.

- Hold a public meeting specifically addressing these concerns.

- Research Portland's senior property-tax relief program and similar programs available to Maine municipalities.

- Investigate creating a local property-tax stabilization, rebate, assistance, or partial-deferral program for qualifying senior and fixed-income homeowners.

- Consider eligibility based on age, income, primary residency, and length of residency or homeownership.

- Act as quickly as legally possible to prevent longtime Union residents from being forced from their homes because they can no longer afford their property taxes.

 

Our seniors should not be taxed out of the community they helped build.

 

We aren't asking that seniors stop paying their fair share.

 

We're asking for fairness, compassion, and a reasonable way for longtime Union residents to remain in the homes they worked their entire lives for.

 

If you agree that Union should explore property-tax protections for our seniors and fixed-income homeowners, please sign this petition and share it with your friends, family, and neighbors in Union.