Guest Commentary | Stop taxing seniors out of their homes
In Southwest Florida, we talk a lot about respecting our elders. But talk is cheap. If we truly honored the generations who built our communities, we’d stop taxing them out of the homes they’ve worked a lifetime to own.
Across the region — from Naples and Fort Myers to Sarasota and Punta Gorda — retirees flock to Florida for its sunshine, no state income tax, and the promise of a peaceful retirement. But what many don’t expect is that the state and local governments will continue demanding rent on a property they already own — every single year.
That rent comes in the form of property taxes. And make no mistake: for many seniors on fixed incomes, these taxes are no small burden.
Think about it. These are individuals who spent 30 or 40 years working, saving, raising children, paying off mortgages, volunteering in their churches and schools, and contributing to society. They’ve paid their dues — and then some. But even after they finally burn the mortgage and hang the “debt-free” sign, the government keeps coming with its hand out. As long as they live in their home, they’ll be taxed. Miss a payment? You could lose the very roof over your head.
That’s not freedom. That’s financial elder abuse.
The truth is, property taxes are regressive and predatory for aging homeowners. They are based not on income or ability to pay, but on the assessed value of a home — which is often driven up artificially by real estate trends the homeowner has no control over.
In Southwest Florida, rising home values are great news for developers and tax collectors, but devastating for seniors trying to stretch Social Security checks to cover everything from prescriptions to utility bills. The “wealth effect” of an appreciating home is meaningless unless you’re selling it – and most of these seniors aren’t. They’re trying to live out their final years in the homes they built, loved, and maintained.
But rising assessments mean rising taxes. And with every increase, more seniors are forced to make impossible choices: pay for medicine or pay the tax bill. Cut back on groceries or fall behind on property taxes. Stay in the community they love — or sell their home and move.
Is this really the America we want? A country where government policies drive our elders into poverty, insecurity, or forced relocation?
It doesn’t have to be this way. We can change the law to eliminate property taxes for senior homeowners who have fully paid off their homes. It’s a simple, targeted reform that would provide real relief to the people who need and deserve it most.
Critics will say it’s not feasible, that counties rely on property tax revenue to fund schools and services. That’s a fair point — but let’s be honest: most of these seniors are not putting kids into public schools anymore. Their needs are different — public safety, healthcare access, community infrastructure. We already carve out exemptions and special treatment in tax codes for all sorts of groups and purposes. Why not for the very people who have contributed for decades and are now most vulnerable?
Others will say we already have “homestead exemptions” and caps on tax increases for seniors. That’s true — but those half-measures aren’t enough. The cost of living is rising far faster than exemptions can keep up with. And for seniors with no pension, no side hustle, and no tolerance for risk, every dollar counts.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t about creating handouts. It’s about honoring a lifetime of contributions. It’s about creating a society that values stability over bureaucracy, and gratitude over greed.
Seniors deserve peace of mind — not annual reminders that the government still holds a financial claim over the home they’ve sacrificed to own.
This is especially urgent in places like Southwest Florida, where a large and growing portion of the population is 65 and older. These communities should be leading the way on this issue — not waiting for a crisis to force change.
If we believe in personal responsibility, if we believe in the American Dream, if we believe in respecting those who came before us — then this is a no-brainer.
End property taxes for senior homeowners. Let them age with dignity, without fear of losing what they’ve earned.
Because in the end, a home that’s paid off should stay that way — free and clear.
Jack Lombardi II, a tech entrepreneur and former candidate for Congress is a resident of Southwest Florida.