My View

By Maggie Rosa

Do you like a bargain?

Do advertisements screaming "50 percent off" appeal to you?

Do you have public projects in your community that have been needing attention but have not risen to the top of the "to do" list?

I do and for those reasons I have been participating in the Community Preservation Act Alliance, together with other like-minded souls, including Sandy Ronan, Karen Gallagher, Kathy Leahy, Paul McGeary, Bob Gillis and Al Johnson. All of us were attracted to the idea of adopting the Community Preservation Act because it seems to be a sensible way for Gloucester to raise money for much-needed projects and to receive matching funds from the state.

The Community Preservation Act provides new funding sources, which can be used to address three core community concerns:

1. Acquisition and preservation of open space;

2. Creation and support of affordable housing;

3. Acquisition and preservation of historic buildings and landscapes.

A minimum of 10 percent of the annual revenue of the fund must be used for each of the three core community concerns. The remaining 70 percent can be allocated for any combination of the allowed uses, or for land for recreational use.

For the act to be adopted by Gloucester, local voters must give their approval and the City Council is then required to appoint a committee to draw up plans for use of the money. The committee must consist of between five and nine members, including one each from the Conservation Commission, the Historical Commission, the Planning Board, the Housing Authority and the Parks and Recreation Commission.

Primary funding for the Community Preservation Act comes from a surcharge of up to 3 percent on the local real estate tax. The surcharge, however, may be offset in part by certain exemptions.

The Gloucester Preservation Act Alliance sought the opinion of city officials and business people and came to the conclusion we would propose to the mayor that the City Council be asked to put the Community Preservation Act initiative on the November 2007 ballot, seeking adoption of the act having a 1 percent surcharge together with the exemptions of (a) the first $100,000 of taxable value of residential real estate and (b) property owned and occupied by a person who qualifies for low-income housing or for low- or moderate-income senior housing.

The matching funds come from money from a trust funded by a surcharge imposed at the Registry of Deeds and the Land Court. For every real estate transaction in Massachusetts, there is a surcharge. In other words, Gloucester residents are paying into this fund but, at the moment, are not receiving any benefit.

More than 120 other communities have adopted the Community Preservation Act and are enjoying the benefits.

Affordable housing projects that have been funded by the act include $50,000 to pay the interest on 10 loans for income-qualified people to do improvements on their homes (Sturbridge, 2005); $1 million to pay down the mortgage of a 10-unit apartment building that will provide rental housing under the Section 8 affordable rental program (Newton, 2005); $15,000 for the creation and paving of 12 parking spaces for the safety of residents of the Ashland Housing Authority; and $400,000 for capital improvements to the Cohasset Housing Authority's low-income senior citizen housing complex.

Recreation projects that have been funded by the Community Preservation Act include building a skateboard park ($80,000, Norwell, 2004); athletic fields ($125,000 Scituate, 2004); and helping to build a new playground ($15,000, Cohasset, 2005).

Preservation projects include $1.6 million for renovating Bedford's Town Hall; $230,000 to convert Weston's town-owned Fiske building to an income-producing asset by renovating it and bringing it up to code so it is suitable to rent to professional tenants; and $10,000 for restoration of Southampton's historic records.

Open space projects include restoration of wetlands, purchase of open space to protect a river and scenic vistas ($300,000, Bourne, 2006); $12,500 for the erection of gates at three town forest entrances in Ashland to prevent motor vehicle trespassing, installation of signs explaining proper use of the town forest and construction of enhanced informational kiosks.

The list goes on and can be downloaded in its entirety from http://www.communitypreservation.org/CPAProjectsSearchStart.cfm.

As to possible projects that could be funded if Gloucester adopted the Community Preservation Act, I list some of the projects identified by the Capital Improvements Advisory Board: Restoration of City Hall, the Sawyer Free Library's Saunders house, the downtown fire station, fences at Nate Ross Field, replacement of tennis and basketball courts at Swinson Field, field rehabilitation at West Parish, Beeman and Plum Cove schools.

What would the cost be to the taxpayer?

Based on the 1 percent surcharge with the $100,000 exemption, the preservation tax would be $19.22 on residential property valued at $300,000, $62.47 on property valued at $750,000. The state Web site does not list the costs if the low-income exemptions are included.

How much money would be raised?

For a 1 percent surcharge and the first $100,000 and low/moderate income exemptions, $500,000 would be raised without the state funds added in.

What is the likelihood that the state will continue to match the funds?

Nothing is certain but the state has acknowledged the benefit of this program and has expressed its intent to retain the program, possibly seeking additional funding sources.

Many of Gloucester's projects have to be done some time in the near future. What better way than to take advantage of state money to achieve these goals?

What better way to put our money where our mouths are and show pride in our community? What better way to do something that will be appreciated by our kids and grandkids?

Please vote for the Community Preservation Act in November!

Maggie Rosa is a Gloucester resident and a member of the Community Preservation Act Alliance. She has also taken out nomination papers for this year's mayoral race.

The above article appeared as a "My View" column in the Gloucester Daily Times of July 6, 2007