To the editor:

This refers to Mr. Mize’s letter published in the July 26 edition of the Barrington Times.

That letter is headed “Tax relief cannot be based on age”. That premise is obviously false, and while Mr. Mize is certainly entitled to his several specious opinions, most observers could not care less about which positions he does or doesn’t support. Seriously, “wink”?

Tax relief certainly can be based on age! Municipalities in Rhode Island and nationwide freeze real estate tax assessments for “elderly taxpayers” (usually at 65 years old), provide “elderly exemptions”, and even the IRS allows elderly deductions for federal income taxes. Importantly, those examples of tax relief for the elderly are not based on need or income.

Mr. Mize is the same luminary who suggested that taxpayers seeking property tax relief should “share their tax returns with the town”. Really? It is difficult to take such a naïve, unrealistic person seriously on any subject. With regard to his question about how low-income people could qualify for mortgages here, first, that is a “non-sequitur”, and secondly he is apparently unaware of the absurd affordable housing program which all other Barrington taxpayers subsidize.

This commentary probably offends Timmy, since he pompously claims in his July 26 letter that an opinion contrary to his own “is silly and offends me”. Based on his aversion to differing opinions, my letter published on July 26 may have caused palpitations, hopefully temporary, since his ongoing ranting does provide a measure of unintended comic relief.

Total school spending in Barrington amounts to about $16 thousand annually per student (divide school budget by enrollment), including “state aid”. Excluding state aid, Barrington taxpayers fund about $14 thousand annually per student. Simply stated, if your annual property taxes total less than $14 thousand for each of your children enrolled in Barrington schools, you are being subsidized by other taxpayers. 

R. Lamb

Estero, Fla.