Easton Selectmen Oppose CPA Surcharge Reduction

The Easton Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Monday night not to support a citizen petition that would reduce the Community Preservation Act surcharge from 3 percent to 1.5 percent.

"Rolling it back would save the average household $60," Board of Selectmen Chair Colleen Corona said. "I believe that $60 collectively does wonderful things for the town of Easton. I can't support anything that would roll back that surcharge."

Currently, the average Easton household contributes $120 per year to the act.

Town Counsel Jay Talerman said the petition, as proposed, would not lawfully pass because a reduction in CPA surcharge must be voted on in a balloted election. The article calls for a reduction in the surcharge beginning July 1, 2011. He said the person moving the article would have to make a motion to amend the article to begin in 2012 instead of 2011.

"The way you have to amend the CPA is the same way you adopt the CPA," Talerman said. "After the town meeting vote, you have to have a ballot vote at next annual or state election."

The CPA, which was approved by town voters in 2001, mandates that a portion of the town's property taxes be used for acquisition and preservation of open space, creation and support of affordable housing, and acquisition and preservation of historic buildings and landscapes.

Currently, the committee is estimating a total of $1,155,851 revenue for Fiscal Year 2012. Approximately $58,000 would be used for administrative costs and approximately $116,000 would be used for historic preservation and community housing, according to the latest draft of the town meeting warrant.

At this year's town meeting, the Community Preservation Committee is looking to acquire sporting fields on Chestnut Street, restore Oaks Ames Memorial Hall, purchase on Oliver Street, continue restoration of Queset Gardents behind , and help fund an affordable housing unit on Highland Street.

"I know its money in a time when everyone is struggling financially," Corona said. "What we have to lose is huge. This town has consistently supported preservation of open space."

Selectmen Ellen Barlow, Sean Noonan and Irwin Cohen all agreed with Corona.

"I also would not be in favor of rolling it back at this time," Barlow said. "We’ve seen what we can leverage what we have been able to accumulate. We have been one of the early beneficiaries of it."