To the Editor:

An approved city budget gives citizens a clear statement of our leaders’ preferences. The budget that the city manager has proposed sends a startling message.

In this budget we would provide well for the young and athletic, but not to the old and infirm. There is a generous amount set aside for bike share and other programs that improve conditions for a relatively small group of people. That might be acceptable if the city were flush with cash which it is not. We are planning expensive bike amenities such as the “bike boulevard” on Royal Street while at the same time eliminating the senior taxi program entirely.

Senior taxi is a godsend for many elderly, who may be too infirm to wait on a bus or walk to the bus stop. Many older seniors have given up driving because of physical limitations or because they can’t afford to maintain a car any longer. To discontinue this program while maintaining or increasing funds for other non-essential programs is simply cruel. Senior taxi is but one of many social safety net programs being reduced or eliminated in the city manager’s proposed budget.

Then there is the elimination of all property tax exemptions for those over 65 with income between $40,000 and $60,000 if they own a home assessed at more than $575,000. That describes the value of almost half the homes in Alexandria. Today that group receives a one-half exemption, but does pay property tax, sometimes several thousand dollars annually.

The property tax is not progressive and does not correlate with income. Many long-time home owners of whatever age are living in homes they could not afford to buy today. The worth of a particular property may be enormous in comparison with the original cost. Recently a friend told me that he and his wife would like to leave their North Ridge home for a condo. They discarded that idea because they would have to pay a lot of capital gains tax to the Federal government with the sale of the house.

It’s not hard to see that some of the seniors faced with paying thousands more in property tax each year without any foreseeable income increase because they are long retired, would be forced into selling the home. They would not avoid paying capital gains in that situation. If they file as single taxpayers, as many widows or widowers do, that tax would be even higher.

Many of the people in this program today would be forced into selling and moving elsewhere. It’s not unreasonable to see this change in our property tax collection as an elder-removal program.

Katy Cannady

Alexandria