In Louisiana we have received property tax freeze for seniors who make under $100,000. Millages can go up, but your assessment is frozen unless you make a major improvement.
This is probably what we need here in NH.
We fund our entire government from property taxes and vehicle registrations.
NH has NO INCOME TAX
NH HAS NO SALES TAX (except 8% rooms and meals tax). If you eat out or buy prepared food there is an 8% tax.
I just received my semi annual town tax bill $4700. I have a typical house. It is not a McMansion and I do not live on lake or ocean front. All the houses abutting me have higher tax bills.
All that being said there are many seniors/retirees who can not afford to pay almost(or more) a $10000 annual property tax bill. So, we probably need to means test the income of seniors and potentially cap the rate they pay. What this will mean is that people under a certain age WILL PAY MORE.
The problem with this is that SENIORS have on average the highest amount of wealth. Their houses are typically paid off. No mortgage. Their kids no longer live with them. So, less mouths to feed. Their kids are no longer going to college. They no longer drive to work. So, their cars last longer. They pay cash for their cars many times. They also pay less in fuel tax because they do not drive as many miles and buy as much gas/diesel. They tend to eat out more because they have more disposable income. You can’t take it with you.
SO, every time I here about one of these SOB stories that so and so can not pay his property taxes because HIS HOUSE is now worth a MILLION dollars. Then sell it to a developer. Move to some place cheaper.