To the editor:

Here’s my idea for some tax relief for the elderly.

At age 65, give the homeowner the option to defer all or any portion of their city and county taxes on their principal residence only (not rental or investment property). This option excludes school district taxes and bonds; the schools need all the money they can get. If they opt to defer these taxes, then the deferred amount will go into an account and also can be charged a small interest rate.

At the time of title transfer of the property, any balance in the tax-deferred account would have to be paid before title could be transferred.

This plan is not perfect, but it does give the elderly an option to defer some taxes and protect them from some increases.