WESTBOROUGH – Efforts to opt into the state Community Preservation Act (CPA) in Westborough took a step forward last week when the Select Board supported placing the question on this year’s Annual Town Meeting warrant.
The Select Board cast this vote on Jan. 25.
For residential property owners, a proposed 0.5% surcharge associated with the CPA could translate to an approximately $42 impact on annual tax bills.
Exploratory Committee pitches 0.5% surcharge
The CPA is a state program that allows communities to vote to place a surcharge on their real estate taxes.
Local funds raised through such surcharges then get matched with state money. The combined CPA dollars can be used for affordable housing and historic preservation efforts as well as open space and recreation projects.
The Community Preservation Act Exploratory Committee previously voted in November to recommend that the Select Board include a CPA article on the Town Meeting warrant.
They recommended the 0.5% surcharge with exemptions for low-income property owners as well as low- and moderate-income senior property owners. There would also be an exemption for the first $100,000 of valuation for residential, commercial and industrial properties.
Exploratory Committee Chair Jennifer Doherty estimated that this would have generated $334,987 in CPA funds for Westborough in the 2021 fiscal year.
There are 187 CPA communities in the state, including Grafton, Hudson, Northborough, Shrewsbury and Southborough.
Most participating communities have higher CPA surcharges than the one Westborough is proposing.
Doherty said the Exploratory Committee has suggested its 0.5% rate, though, in light on ongoing concerns about possible tax increases next year.
“I appreciate the sensitivity,” said Select Board member Patrick Welch on Jan. 25.
“That’s a good place to start under the current budget situation,” he added, referring to the surcharge
Exploratory Committee conducted outreach
The Exploratory Committee was appointed in 2020 with the charge of exploring whether Westborough should adopt the Community Preservation Act.
The committee conducted a survey last fall as part of its public outreach.
Doherty said that 77.2% of respondents said they were willing to spend at least $50 a year on the three categories funded through the CPA.
Town officials have additionally noted in recent years that taxpayers are already supporting part of the CPA program through their state taxes, which fund the state’s matching contributions to participating communities.
They’ve argued that adoption of the CPA would let the town see some of the money that it’s been paying into this program over the years.
Next steps include town meeting vote, possible ballot question
Voters will weigh in on the CPA at Town Meeting in March. Approval there will then place the question on this year’s November election ballot, at which point voters would either enact or reject the proposed local CPA program.
A Community Preservation Committee to oversee Westborough’s CPA funds would later be established at Town Meeting in 2023 if Westborough does decide to opt in.
Funds would begin to be collected in July 2023.
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