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SPENCER – This fall, voters will see a question on the election ballot asking whether Spencer should participate in the Community Preservation Act (CPA) program. If approved, the result is a 1% surcharge on real estate taxes to pay for open space, recreation, affordable housing or historic preservation projects.
At the May 2, 2024 town meeting, by a vote of 47-7 approved the measure and a majority vote by the townspeople in November is the next step in the process.
Town Planner Lauren Vivier explained that the surcharge would not increase the residential tax rate (which in Spencer is currently $11.44 per $1,000 valuation). Instead, it assesses a surcharge on a property tax bill after it has been calculated based on the tax rate.
The median value of a single-family home in Spencer is $281,100.
The process involves subtracting $100,000 from the value of each taxable parcel for residential, industrial, and commercial properties during calculations. For instance, a parcel valued at $400,000 would have the surcharge applied to $300,000.
The state matches the funds using money from the Registry of Deeds.
Exemptions are available for property owned and occupied by an individual who qualifies for low- income housing or low-or-moderate income senior housing, the planner said.
Vivier described CPA as “a smart growth tool that helps communities” by preserving open space and historic sites, and developing affordable housing and outdoor recreational facilities.
Currently, there are 196 out of 351 communities in Massachusetts that have adopted the CPA including Sturbridge, Grafton, Boylston, Shrewsbury and Northborough.
If adopted, a committee would be formed comprised of representatives from these areas. They would identify and recommend projects, which would then have to be voted on by Town Meeting before moving forward.
Opponents to the CPA argued that another tax is difficult for people on fixed incomes, expressed doubt about the availability and ease with which to get exemptions and were not in favor of being locked into the program for five years – (after which time a community could vote to get out of it).
“Enough is enough,” said resident Kurt Nordquist. “It’s just another tax.” He said that residents already must pay meal taxes and other rates and that most of the towns that have adopted the program are located on Cape Cod and have higher property values.
“The structure of the tax is flawed,” said resident Dennis Valley at Town Meeting, explaining that property values do not always correlate with income and qualifying for exemptions may vary from year to year.
He added it would not be easy to administer.
While noting there is value in preserving open space, Valley added, “It’s a good concept but it’s just not ready for us to go forward with as a town.”
Resident Roger Foss disagreed, saying there is “never a good time for taxes…if not now, then when?”
Foss, who proposed the article, gave examples of the types of projects that CPA funds could be used for including:
- establishing bicycle paths like what is being done on Meadow Street;
- restoring O’Gara Field “to its former glory;”
- repurposing Lake Street School;
- converting the Cherry Street Fire station into a youth center; and
- creating a dog park at Luther Hill where “deceased trees have been cut down.”
Foss said any projects would be decided by the voters at Annual Town Meeting and not the state, Board of Selectmen or town manager.
Mary Baker-Wood, chairperson of the Historical Commission and vice president of the Common Ground Land Trust said that residents many times have said that what they care most about Spencer is its historical nature, beauty and rural character.
“(CPA) is an excellent program. A lot of towns in Massachusetts have discovered it and I’d like Spencer to be one of them. Across the state, CPA funds are being used in creative ways and communities are doing amazing projects,” Baker-Wood said.
In a phone interview, Baker-Wood added that the CPA funds could be “seed money” to pursue grants or for special projects such as historical preservation of key buildings and cemeteries or an “historical corridor at Turkey Hill.”
Should the town approve the program, Baker-Wood said the committee established to make recommendations would always welcome input and feedback from residents to make sure the projects are things the people want.
To those expressing concern about the financial burden, Baker-Wood re-iterated that there are “a lot of abatements built into” the program to help them.
