A Good Idea

Check this one out, from today's Globe. What a great idea.

If you don't want to read the whole thing, the City of Boston is trying out a program that will give property tax breaks to older residents in exchange for some basic office work -- answering phones, filing, that kind of stuff.

Gov. Deval Patrick spent all of last year promising property tax relief, especially for seniors. Local officials of every shape and size have been wringing their hands over this issue for years. Here's a simple, basic, good (partial) solution to the problem.

Yes, yes, I can hear it now: We're giving away jobs, we're giving away money, will they squeeze someone out of a job, blah, blah, blah. Considering how personnel-strapped the city is, shouldn't this be a no-brainer for consideration? Can't good, honest, hard-working retired folks help out in just about area of city government -- including (especially?) the schools?

This seems like such an easy, simple way to help the city, the community, and older property owners getting smacked by property tax hikes. Will someone in City Hall please start talking about this?