CPA Will Be on Nov. 6 Ballot
Mayor announces success of five-day campaign after City Council voted against act last month.
Correction: A previous version of this article stated that the CPA property surcharge being considered for Salem is 3 percent. It in fact is 1 percent.
An effort to put the Community Preservation Act on the Nov. 6 ballot has been successful, according to Mayor Kimberley Driscoll.
The Act, which would permit a property tax surcharge that could be used by the city for open space and other projects, according to the Salem News, was voted down last month by the City Council.
A city councilor Wednesday confirmed the surcharge for Salem would clock in at 1 percent.
"This initiative was affirmatively voted on by the City Council in 2007, however it was ultimately rejected by the voters at the ballot box," Ward 6 Councilor Paul Prevey wrote in a letter to Salem Patch last week, which was in response to a Salem News editorial.
In an effort to get the CPA issue on the November ballot, the Mayor and some residents started a five-day campaign to get at least 1,350 signatures (the required number), according to the Mayor's Facebook Page.
On Twitter Tuesday, Driscoll announced the effort to get the issue on the ballot was successful and invited supports to toast to the accomplishment: "CPA ballot bound in Salem as 1601 signatures certified today by City Clerk! Come celebrate this amazing 5 day feat on Fri-9/7, 6pm Rockafellas," she tweeted.
On her Facebook, page Driscoll said she was "glad voters will have a chance to weigh in directly on this worthwhile tool to improve our community."
The issue was not without controversy. On the issue of the surcharge, Prevey wrote the following in his letter to the editor: "when you add it to every other increase, it becomes a crushing financial burden for so many people. The cumulative effect is truly a death by a thousand paper cuts; some people have the blood to withstand it, while others are quickly being bled dry."
What do you think about the CPA issue? Be sure to tell us in the comments.
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windpower
7:35 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Unlike the Mayor. most of us have had our say .2007 no,and last week no.
Councilors may I speak to you again ?
Three opinions in Salem news anti and most comments anti. Say no more !
NO NO NO
GET IT
Would love to break down the signatures to see how many property owners signed .Ed Wolfe
Michael
8:08 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Can someone please clarify the amount of the surchage for me please? This article states a 3% surchage while Salem News is stating a 1% surchage. http://www.salemnews.com/local/x1884284482/CPA-gets-spot-on-Salem-ballot
gene
8:18 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
It is up to 3% but the proponents it will only be 1% TO START. Carter Vinson writes a great letter about that, if adopted, we will soon have a CPA czar and other costs. Don't think so - whoever thought Salem would have an energy coordinator or a coordinator of special projects? A tax is a tax, is a tax, is a tax! NO MORE TAXES!!!
Josh Turiel
8:42 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
I'm going to chime in here just once to clarify a few of the points. Yes, I voted to put it on the ballot. In general, I feel decisions like that should be made by voters rather than just the council. The CPA this year is not the same as it was in 2007 (I can't remember, but I think I voted no on it that year when it was on the ballot), the formulas for funding were changed to deemphasize open space acquisition and make it better for cities.
As on the ballot, the CPA is a 1% surcharge of the total property tax bill, with the first $100k of value exempted from the calculation. So if you have a house value of $400k, your first $100k is out and your tax bill for the year is in the $6k range overall (no, I'm not doing the actual math here). That would mean for CPA purposes, the tax bill is more like $4.5k (after the exemption) and you'd get a CPA charge of about $45.
You also get exempted if you meet elderly or low-income provisions as well.
Should it pass, it takes effect in the next FY, beginning next July. In the meantime, a board is appointed of up to 9 people, 5 from mandated city departments and the other 4 from wherever we designate. The City Council establishes the board. The board is unpaid.
The board reviews applications for CPA funding and passes them to City Council for approval.
Were the rate to change, it would be by popular vote. Not from above.
And FWIW, outside of Patch, Salemweb, & the News, most of the calls and emails I've seen are pro-CPA.
Fran Wilson
10:05 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
I'm thrilled my right to vote on this issue is protected!
Josh Turiel
8:54 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Actually, I'll add a little here because I ran out of space...
In the end, every tax or fee is paid by the resident - whether they rent or own. If they rent, the costs are passed on in their rent. If they own, it's paid directly. We opt not to have our taxes paid by our mortgage company, so I see all the tax bills directly (you don't get a break for being on the council, sorry) and I know what it's costing me.
Also, it's definitely not going to be an affordable housing slush find, no matter what some people here are saying. We do have to commit at least 10% of the money raised to affordable housing (we're estimating the total CPA revenue would be about $750k, including matching funds - so 10% would be about $75k), but that can go to improvements, homeowner assistance, or repairs - not just to building more of it.
The matching funds come from fees that are assessed at the Registry of Deeds for transactions along with money allocated from the state budget surplus.
If you want to read the actual law for yourself, it's at http://communitypreservation.org/content/text-legislation
I have some issues with the CPA (mainly the bonding issues), but I'd rather see the basic facts out there for people to decide for themselves than watch the rhetoric that keeps flying by on both sides.
gene
9:00 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Josh - to take your justification for your vote one step further, then when it comes time to vote the budget or set the tax rate then should that be placed on the ballot? What about Mayoral appointments? The fact is you have an obligation to the residents and taxpayers of the City. You have chosen to "excuse" your way around your vote, when it appears you are really a closet advocate of this tax.
windpower
9:35 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
And counciler ,would you tell us where the "matching funds" come from ?
Would you direct us to the pro comments and rhetoric no really would you please .
And define matching please .
Ed
KlassySalem
10:05 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
I think he did, Ed.
"The matching funds come from fees that are assessed at the Registry of Deeds for transactions along with money allocated from the state budget surplus."
We pay those fees, already, and the money we pay goes other places, like Lexington and Cambridge.
I wasn't in favor of the council putting this on the ballot. It seemed like if it was going to be on the ballot, it should come from a voter initiative to get it there, not a random request from Councilor Furey. Be careful what I wish for, I guess.
There have been enough changes to the CPA law (making it much more useful in a dense community) since 2007 that I at least get where Josh is coming from. I'll also say, I asked him point blank, if the CPA had been instituted in 2007, and someone was proposing to put a repeal on the ballot, would he vote for that? His answer was that he definitely would vote to give voters that choice. I had a harder time finding fault with his position in light of that.
Will I vote for it? I seriously doubt it. Us getting money from around the state is attractive, but for me to support it, I'd want to know ahead of time who those 9 people would be, and I'd need some sort of guarantee that the minimum 10% affordable housing money would be restricted to maintenance on existing city owned housing, and downpayment assistance for people purchasing homes. Enough section 8, already. Doubt we get that before November. Northcutt pushing hard for this scares me.
windpower
10:39 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Exactly ,fees and taxes .We should have access to those anyway .
Salem_Native
10:29 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
I think there needs to be more discussion citing examples of the kinds of CPA projects that would be funded from such a tax. Photo of Lappin Park is pictured above - is that the kind of thing we're talking about? If so, I'm in -- family and I visited there last week, and I was completely blown away by the new thick, lush, deep green grass that now occupies that space. Used to be a mud-filled ashtray. It's absolutely gorgeous now. I don't know if it will stay that way, and/or if the city installed proper irrigation to keep the grass watered & healthy, but as far as I'm concerned projects that clean up any of the blight and run-down parcels in the city is TOTALLY worth a few extra tax dollars.
KlassySalem
10:47 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
That is the type of project that CPA funds could be used for. Also, things like the work being done on city hall, replacing the roof, windows, repointing, etc. Upkeep and rehab of old town hall would fit as well. Rehabbing city parks, as well as buying open space would be CPA eligible.
On the other hand, so would spending lots of money to buy, or build, big section 8 housing projects. At least 10% of the CPA funds collected need to be dedicated to affordable housing in some way, shape, or form. That can be used for stuff like maintenance on Rainbow Terrace or Pioneer Terrace, but would it be?
Aubry Bracco
12:02 pm on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Please note the correction on the article regarding surcharge percent.
Matt
12:47 pm on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
If this additional tax did not include the affordable housing requirement, I would vote for it. I would gladly pay an extra $30 or so a year if the money was going to parks, open space, historic preservation, etc.
When is there going to be too much affordable housing in Salem? This is basic economics: more affordable housing requires more city services, which requires more taxes and more spending on said government services.
But maybe that's the point of the CPA to begin with....
gene
1:26 pm on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
The proponents of this tax are saying it will be an average of $30 per taxpayer, but the fact is that the assesssment could be much higher. A homeowner could end up up paying $50 or $60 more for each percent of the CPA. Also, when is the last time taxes went down? So today's $30 is tomorrow's $40 and next week's $80. NO NEW TAXES - THERE IS NO FREE RIDE!!!
Antoine M. Boisvert
2:28 pm on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Amen, Matt. Poor people are naturally inferior and don't deserve a place to live.
Gene, there is something you said that I don't understand. "NO NEW TAXES" seems clear, and "NO FREE RIDE" seems clear. But I don't see how the two can possibly go together. Because taxes are how "the ride" (Roads, schools, police, fire, national defense, and untold other elements of our crumbling social infrastructure) gets paid for. You know that "Freedom isn't Free?" Bumper sticker? It's true, so quit whining and pay your taxes.
doc holliday
12:56 pm on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Again,taking care of the good for nothing's on welfare.
moresalemtaxes
10:35 pm on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Gene, great point. What say you Josh? When was the last time the city voted to reduce property taxes? Why do our taxes keep going up and yet there is no accountability on results. Pathetic.
chester suchecki
7:39 am on Thursday, September 6, 2012
pioneer terrace and rainbow terrace are salem houseing authority properties and get funded by renters ,state and federal money. it they look run down see the salem housing authority
.
windpower
7:55 am on Thursday, September 6, 2012
Still looking for the pro CPA comments
gene
8:06 am on Thursday, September 6, 2012
other than gimme, gimme, gimme, more, more, more; what can they write?
gk
9:54 am on Monday, September 10, 2012
What, we have a system in place that allows individuals a VOTE to choose to put their hard earned dollars toward "Open space", "Rehabilitation", "Maintenance" and “Support of community housing”???? Preposterous! Utterly preposterous!!!
Gene, this is not a gimme, gimme, gimme. This is people choosing to put their money where they would like to see it spent. Sound more like a give to you, give to you, give to you – to me. Vote NO. That is your right, and your choice. I appreciate you have the opportunity to do so.
Personally, I have read the entire document and am in full support of it. I WILL VOTE YES on Nov 6 because it is my right and my choice – and I put value on the environment and community in which I live.
Josh, thank you for helping in allowing me, and everyone, the opportunity to vote on this.
Leo Jodoin
11:28 am on Monday, September 10, 2012
You can join !!Salem Now!! with Leo Jodoin LIVE! Tuesday September 11Th at 7:00pm, Leo and his guest will be talking about the CPA and like always the phone lines will be open, if you miss the LIVE! broadcast you can still see the reruns and go on line to satvonline.org and watch it on video on demand (vod), we hope you will join us!
john
5:24 pm on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
This is a vote for a self imposed tax. It's crazy.I see the photo off the new grass in the square which was put down by a contractor and will be dirt in 2 years. No increases are trackable. A good example is the ramp fee at winter island,where is all that money? The fees for winter island and forest river,where is all that money? Maybe it went towards raises last year for department heads and others.NO WAY.
Brian
12:38 pm on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
IF YOU VOTE THIS IN YOUR A FOOL. ITS JUST ANOTHER ROUND ABOUT WAY OF GETTING WHAT THEY WANT WITHOUT CALLING IT WHAT IT IS. ANOTHER TAX
Antoine M. Boisvert
2:22 pm on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Gosh, Brian. I wasn't quite persuaded until I saw your Capital letters... Just kidding. I'm not persuaded at all. Glad to know that you think wanting funding things like open space, historic preservation, etc is a matter for fools. And I am perfectly capable of seeing that this is a tax, thanks. It just happens to be one I would be glad to pay.
john
3:06 pm on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
I guess with the new ruling on the transfer station,if it does pass,every dime would have to go to preserving that land and the mayor would have to stop holding a gun to the taxpayers heads.
gene
5:55 pm on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Antoine if you are so happy to pay this NEW tax, then you can pay mine.
windpower
11:40 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
Antoine ;
Why is it the the pro CPA people ALWAYS forget the low income part .?
Antoine M. Boisvert
3:16 pm on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Well actually, Windpower, if you look further up the page you will see that I have not forgotten it. Actually I am in favor of it. Since actually getting rid of poverty is probably an unrealistic goal, poor people need to be able to live somewhere. A lot of people here seem to be thinking, regarding low income housing: "Are there no workhouses? Are there no prisons?" Or isn't there a nearby city or town they could go to where everyone is poor? I guess I would expect that kind of attitude from the residents of some nearby suburbs; but seeing it from fellow Salem residents is disappointing.
Cwheels
7:34 pm on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
If the city couldn't use this fund to purchase new or convert existing units into affordable housing then I would have less of a problem with it, I still wouldn't vote for it. Do you really trust that this money will go toward worthwhile projects that will benefit us? I don't, and now that this will be on the ballot I fully intend to talk about it with my tenants because I will be passing on the additional tax burden to them. After all they wanted everyone to have a stake in it.
Why not give us a dedicated fund to donate to, overseen by trustworthy folks appointed by the city council or voted in by us. The Mayor need not apply! The board could identify public places, monuments and open spaces in Salem that need attention then raise and allocate funds. Give us something like that and I could see myself donating a lot more then the price of my daily coffee for a year.
The last thing Salem needs is more fees, taxes and slush funds.
Chatsworth Osborne III
7:59 pm on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
The CPA tax scheme is just a backdoor Prop 2 1/2 override. Just vote no to more taxes.
Brian
11:21 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
ANTOINE, SORRY DIDNT MEAN YOUR A FOOL. I JUST THINK THE PRIVATE SECTOR SHOULD TAKE UP THE SLACK AND FUND SOME OF THESE PROJECTS.
I STILL THINK IT AN END AROUND FOR HIGHER TAXES. SORRY IM GOING WITH A
BIG NO ON THIS ONE.
Carolyn Costain
10:55 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
When a person brought the petition for this issue to my door, I specifically asked if it would cost the taxpayers more money , I was told a flat out "NO!" when I asked for the guy to explain it to me? He said he did not have time because he needed a lot of people to sign that day. I said "If you don't have time to explain it, than I don't have the time to sign it!" I didn't sign it but I believe a lot of people did sign it that day and that, "like I was told", it would not cost the taxpayers of this city, which was a bold face "lie" to get people to sign it. I think they should call every person on that petition and ask again if they knew it would cost the home owners through a property tax surcharge, would they have signed it at all? I believe people were mislead to sign that petition as I almost was with a bold face lie!
Carolyn Costain
11:14 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
The preservation and land use and open space in this city already has boards in place Its called the "historical commission and the planning board and the conservation commission! Its their job and what they are being paid for! Why do we need to burden tax payers to pay for another committee when we have 3 already? This is just another excuse to take money from the people to use not just for this issue but as they say "Other projects? " This city borrows from Peter to pay Paul for prior funded projects they spent the money on elsewhere! now they want to rob Paul and Peter to make up for their misuse of designated funds. This is a sneaky way to raise the taxes after our President swore that our property taxes would stay the same. "I think I will write a letter along with this issue and a Salem petition of my own and send it to Washington." Salem needs to utilizes the boards already in place to deal with the preservation issue! It's been their job all along to do this!