Say you bought a home decades ago for just $25,000. By 2018, you very well may have seen its appraised value quadruple or more, and the property tax bill with it.

For many seniors, this isn’t a hypothetical, it’s reality. The problem is their income is fixed. Just because their home is now worth more, it doesn’t mean they are making more. They are left with less and less money to spend on other needs. This can mean skipping a prescription, or cutting back on groceries and heating oil.

Eventually, many are faced with just one option: to sell. That’s just wrong.

Seniors have contributed to our community in so many ways and for so long. I’m proposing we give seniors relief. As a state, let’s freeze property taxes for those over the age of 65. Let them pay what they paid when they were 65. If they decide to sell, the new owner’s rate would rise to the expected level for that home.

This isn’t about charity, it’s about respecting seniors’ contributions to our community. We should do all we can to ensure they’re protected from being forced out.

Laufton AscencaoBristol

Mr. Ascencao is a Democratic candidate for House of Representatives, District 68.