March 1, 2013Dear Sir,Successive Governments have dealt senior citizens blows in tax increases, despite their pre-election promises to be sensitive to their needs. The most recent blow concerns the new One Bermuda Alliance Government’s removal of seniors’ ‘blanket’ exemption from vehicle licenses — restricting it to the smaller vehicles. Our vehicle is Class G — 1985 model — purchased second-hand in 1986. It would be an injudicious use of savings to purchase a new, smaller automobile while this one is still operational, and it would certainly be difficult to sell a 28 year old car. Like many other seniors who need a car, the size was dictated by the owner’s previous occupation, physical size and limited mobility.The former Progressive Labour Party Government removed the seniors’ Land Tax exemption on properties of over $50,000. Thankfully, we still get an exemption up to that amount, but even so, it is a considerable drain on resources. It should be pointed out that the valuation of many properties is unrealistic given the current depressed real estate values. We appreciate that the Finance Minister has a difficult (impossible?) task to get us out of the present financial doldrums, and we wish him well in his endeavours. Hopefully, he will find some way to ease the Vehicle Licence Tax for seniors … at the very least by applying the tax only to the amount in excess of Class E, similar to the situation with the Land Tax.OCTOGENARIANSPaget