Vote Yes On Framingham Question 3: Letter

Note: The following is a letter to the editor and does not reflect the views of the Framingham Patch.

If an established institution came along and offered you a 20% return on an investment, it would sound good, right? And what if the return next year was forecast to be in the 25 to 35% rate? Even better.

That’s one way I look at Question 3. The CPA is a dedicated savings account – funded by a 1% tax surcharge – that allows the residents of Framingham to build a bank account devoted to securing or improving open space and outdoor recreational space; to build, rehab, or adapt housing for seniors, young people, and families; and to preserve important historic structures and resources. The money the state collects to match local funds is locked in a trust; it cannot be used to patch a budget hole somewhere else. Same for the city CPA fund. The savings grow from year to year, weathering broader financial ups and downs.

If approved on November 3rd, the estimated $50 per taxpayer per year won’t go into effect until Fiscal Year ’22, 10 months away. We should all be on better footing by then. And we’ll be ready to start saving for quality of life improvements that will benefit every corner of our city.

Vote YES on Question 3.

—Beth Greeley, Framingham