A New Tax?

City Planning Coordinator David Streb recommended yesterday the city should consider approving the Community Preservation Act, which would add 1 to 3 percent on residents' property tax bills.

For the Save Fitchburg plantation, as an example, that would cost between $25 and $75 a year, roughly. Hmmmm...

The goal is the program is that the state matches the money received through the tax. The money can only be used for open space protection, maintaining historic buildings, and affordable housing. At least 10 percent of the money needs to be used on each.

Our door isn't completely closed to this idea, but we'd like to know how the money would be spent, and on what. Let's say a lot of that money went to fixing City Hall (a project floated in the story). Would this be a cheaper option than bonding or doing the work through the budget? Can there be some kind of time or total limit put on this, or we stuck with it in perpetuity?

Obviously, we have a questions, and they'd have to be answered well. In communities like Fitchburg, this idea is usually a non-starter. We can't imagine a lot of city leaders would be interested in doing this.

Finally, some long-time readers might be thinking, "Didn't this blog start because of opposition to the override talk?" Yup. As we stated from the beginning, our displeasure with the override was based in financial mismanagement, not in increased taxes (although of course that's a factor). If the CPA can be effective and a good financial tool for the city, we should listen.