To the editor:

Bristol residents turning 65 years old are probably excited to receive a property tax exemption after this eligible milestone. Right? Not so fast, if you have not lived in your home for 20 years.

The Bristol town council recently voted 3 to 2 in favor of a $300 a year property tax exemption at age 65 or over, but only if you have resided in your Bristol residence for 20 years. This decision by the town council has been forwarded, as required by law, to the State of Rhode Island to enable Bristol to enact this new rule after the State House and Senate approve this request. Residents of Bristol already get a property tax exemption beginning at age 65, which increases every 5 years up to age 75. This new change requiring a 20-year residency would eliminate all of the residents who turn 65 but have not lived in their home for 20 years.

Let’s say you moved into a new home in 2020 at age 60. You would have to wait till you were 76 before you could claim this tax exemption. Property tax relief programs should be designed to help those who need assistance to stay in their homes today.

We need to assist older members of our community who struggle with the ever-increasing burden of increasing property taxes; not find reasons to reject their needs. We need to tell the elected officials of our town that this 20-year residency requirement they want to enact is unacceptable and shuts out many of our older friends and neighbors in our community. I believe we should keep the tax exemption as it currently stands and research a better way to improve the town’s finances as it improves the lives of its residents. More study is needed; there is a better solution.

I ask that interested people in Bristol contact their Town Council members and ask them to withdraw their request to the State that would allow them to change the property tax exemption. There is a better way.

Sandra Darling
AARP Volunteer
Fort Hill Road