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Select Board to put proposed cut to Community Preservation surcharge before voters after heated public comment
Summary
The board agreed to add and recommend a warrant article to reduce the Community Preservation Act (CPA) surcharge from 2% to 1% (and a related 1% to WIF); CPC chair Arden Russell and many residents urged the board to oppose any reduction, citing lost state match and fewer clean-water and historic preservation projects.
The Mashpee Select Board debated whether to place on the October warrant a proposed reduction of the Community Preservation Act (CPA) surcharge from 2% to 1% and an associated 1% shift to the Wastewater Infrastructure Fund (WIF). Arden Russell, chair of the Community Preservation Committee (CPC), presented the CPC's opposition, outlining the program's uses (clean water projects, open space, historic preservation and affordable housing), the decline in the state match and the local funding totals the CPC has leveraged.
Russell warned that "Reducing the surcharge from 2 percent to 1% would significantly reduce the resources available for these types of investments," and noted past state matching and local totals for CPA-supported projects. Board members and residents traded views about fiscal trade-offs: some argued the town's wastewater debt and state forgiveness make shifting funds prudent, while many residents and community groups urged preserving CPC funding to maintain project leverage, grant-matching capacity and ongoing clean-water work. After discussion the board voted to place Article 1 (CPC surcharge) and Article 2 (WIF adjustment) on the warrant so voters can decide at town meeting.
