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Question 5 supporter Jennifer Susse with sign and leaflets

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Letter - Dan Dunn

In the following letter, republished from YourArlington.com, Dan Dunn makes his case for supporting the Community Preservation Act.

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I strongly support the Community Preservation Act, and I encourage you to support it on Election Day, Nov. 4. You've surely read a dozen letters from both sides, so I will keep mine short.

First: Arlington's expenses grow faster than our revenues. Proposition 2 1/2 keeps our revenue on a tight leash, and our expenses (insurance, salaries, etc.) grow faster than 2.5% in the long run. That means we need to periodically find new revenue, including the overrides we passed as a town in 2011 and 2005.

Second: We will need additional revenue in the coming years, perhaps 2017-18. It will be necessary if we want to continue to provide town services and schools at their current levels.

Third, and most important: If we pass the CPA, we will get additional matching money from the state. We can use both the CPA tax monies and additional state matching money for capital projects, and use the resulting savings to delay and defer future override votes.

That's the argument in a nutshell. The opponents of the CPA are afraid, in part, that the CPA funds will be used for frivolous, wasteful things. I'm simply not worried about that. Town Meeting will continue to have ultimate control over any spending. Town Meeting has made good choices for us, and it's not suddenly going to lose its good sense because the CPA is passed.

There are, of course, many details and nuances to the CPA proposal, including tax relief for seniors and a $100,000 deduction for every property owner. You can read more on the details here.

Let's not leave this state funding unclaimed. Let's vote yes, and let's get our fair share.

~ Dan Dunn, Board of Selectmen

Get Involved

Want to see Arlington adopt the Community Preservation Act? Here are a few ways you can help pass Question 5:

• Volunteer to help with visibility on Election Day
• Make a financial donation to the campaign
• Subscribe to our mailing list
• Be listed as a Supporter
• Follow us on Facebook
• Host a Yard Sign

Election Day Volunteers

On Election Day we need people waving signs in support of the Community Preservation Act, reminding people to vote and to vote YES on Question 5.

If you can help, please fill out this form:

Question 5 can fund needed high school, senior-center repairs

Needed repairs and renovations at Arlington High School, the Senior Center, and Town Hall could be paid for using the Community Preservation Fund proposed by Question 5.

In need of TLC: Arlington Senior Center

The fund would be restricted by law to preservation purposes—but that covers a lot of ground.

A community-preservation fund could also be used for improvements to parks and playgrounds and for affordable housing.

The following are examples to show what's possible. It would be up to Town Meeting to decide what the priorities are.

Arlington open-space preservation opportunities

The following projects would qualify for funding under the Community Preservation Act if Arlington adopts Question 5.

• Acquisition of the Mugar Land in East Arlington for flood storage and passive recreation;
• Acquisition of the church land abutting Poet's Corner;
• Permanent protection of Great Meadows.

The above are examples only.

Some recreation preservation opportunities

The following projects would qualify for funding under the Community Preservation Act if Arlington adopts Question 5.

• Trails and amenities for the Symmes Woods Conservation Area;
• Minuteman Bikeway—Improvements on Arlington section pursuant this study;
• Restoration and clean-up of Mill Brook with new pathways and access points;
• Accessibility improvements to recreation facilities pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, based on study requirements;

Some affordable-housing opportunities

The Housing Corporation of Arlington has 1,000 people on its waiting list for affordable housing. Most are Arlington residents. The HCA’s aim has been to buy multiple-family units throughout Arlington and renovate them for a lottery for those on the waiting list.

The most recent project that they completed is the Capital Square project in East Arlington on Massachusetts Avenue.

The following projects would qualify for funding under the Community Preservation Act if Arlington adopts Question 5.

Some historic-preservation opportunities

The following projects would qualify for funding under the Community Preservation Act if Arlington adopts Question 5.

• Town Hall—window replacement and weather protection, restoration of historic detail in auditorium, Cyrus Dallin flagpole and fountains restoration;
• Restoration of the Bow for the Dallin’s Menotomy Hunter;

Yard Signs

Please let us know if you would like to display a yard sign by filling out this form:

I heard that...

...these things aren’t really necessary in Arlington.

A responsible government takes care of basic needs such as public education, public safety, public works and public health. These things are indeed necessary -- but they're not sufficient to maintain and foster a vibrant, desirable community that respects its heritage and offers a quality of life that its residents value highly. It must also protect its cultural legacy, preserve its natural and recreational resources, and ensure that those who struggle can find affordable places to live.

The Community Preservation Act allows towns like Arlington to protect these qualities that are too often neglected.

...my taxes will go up dramatically.

Less than a quarter a day -- $86 a year – for the average Arlington household.

If adopted by Arlington voters, the Community Preservation Act will allow a surcharge of 1.5% to be levied on residential and commercial property. All taxpayers would receive an automatic exemption on the first $100,000 of their property value. And low and moderate-income seniors and all low-income residents would qualify for complete exemptions from the surcharge.

To estimate the potential impact on your household check out our online Calculator.

...we’re stuck with it forever.

The Community Preservation Act allows communities to withdraw from participation after five years.

Virtual Arlington - To the Polls!

YourArlington.com has published a poll online that asks how you plan to vote on the Community Preservation Act.

Now you have a chance to cast your virtual vote on Question 5.

Go vote, and while you're at it, why not ask a friend to do so as well?

It's a great opportunity to explain to friends what the Community Preservation Act is all about, and why it is a good deal for Arlington.

The poll can be found at www.YourArlington.com

And remember, vote YES!

Calculate your proposed surcharge

Ready to find out how much your CPA Surcharge will be?*

Check here if your home is owned and occupied by an individual aged 60 years or older:

Household Income:

Persons in Family:

Home Valuation:   

Your estimated Annual CPA Surcharge Amount is:

*This current estimate is based on Arlington’s FY2014 Residential and Commercial Tax Rate of $13.79, your own FY2014 assessed value as entered, and the Affordable Housing Income Limits based on 2014 HUD Area-wide Median Income, as defined in the Community Preservation Act statute. All are subject to change each year.

Not sure of the assessed value of your home? You can look that up here: Arlington's Assessment database.