In John Poulos's over-55 condominium community in Litchfield, the condo association plows and maintains the roads, and supplies the water. But Poulos still pays the same tax rate as a homeowner in a single-family home who uses many more municipal services. He thinks he should get a break.

Poulos has joined forces with a group of other condo owners in age-restricted housing who are agitating for a statewide property tax abatement. Elderly residents, he said, don't send children to the schools and are expected to pay for the maintenance of their own roads and utility lines. But many of his neighbors live on fixed incomes and struggle to accommodate their ever-rising tax bills.

"We simply don't draw on the same amount of town services that a family of four that has an acre and a half does," said Poulos, who moved from Massachusetts to Litchfield a few years ago. "We just felt that we should attempt it if we could make things a bit more equitable."

Earlier this month, Poulos wrote letters to the editor of nine New Hampshire newspapers and called for a meeting of like-minded seniors. About 100 showed up to a recent meeting and expressed interest in a policy change. Two of Poulos's state representatives said they would bring the idea to Concord next year, if they're re-elected.

"We're not looking for a huge amount," said Jean White, one of Poulos's neighbors. "We're looking for maybe just a small one. Something that would benefit us a bit in these golden years."

Age-restricted housing developments have been burgeoning throughout the state, as towns have realized they are a way to draw new residents who will not bring children into the school systems. But these retired residents say they're sick of being treated as cash cows for their communities. Though Poulos and his colleagues emphasized that they want to support public education and pay their fair share, they said that the current taxing system doesn't make sense.

"As a group of people right now, we feel like the people in Boston must have felt when they threw the tea in the bay," said Paul Hamel, who recently relocated from Massachusetts to an over-55 community in Hudson. "We're paying taxes and we're not getting anything for them."

The idea is still taking shape. Rep. Lynn Ober, a Hudson Republican who has signed on to the effort, said that she's not sure how much of a discount would be appropriate. Poulos and other members of the effort said they aren't sure whether condo groups that welcome young residents should be allowed to take part. But they said they're optimistic that the proposal will begin winding its way through the Legislature next session.

"Our role as state representatives is to help each and every one of our constituents," Ober said.

Peter Francese, an Exeter demographer who has written extensively on age-restricted housing, said that the group - as with many towns - is thinking too simply about the ways elderly communities use tax dollars. His research, he said, has shown that increasing the proportion of elderly residents has actually increased the tax burden for many communities. Older people drive up the cost of health insurance for school districts through their use of Medicare, soften the commercial tax base by shopping less than younger people and increase commuting - and the need for road expansion - by exhausting the affordable housing supply in places where young people work.

"These people cost the state of New Hampshire so much money," Francese said.

Hamel said that he thinks residents of age-restricted communities such as his will have growing political clout as new units fill around the state. Unlike Francese, he figures he pays for more than he uses.

"Whether they like it or not, we're here to stay," he said. "They're building a lot more of these in New Hampshire, and we're going to be a considerable-sized voting block. And older people tend to vote more."