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
