The Town of Shrewsbury is seeking persons who want to be identified as principal opponents to prepare arguments opposing the passage of the question for the Ballot Initiative for the Community Preservation Act Adoption.
If interested, please inform the Board of Selectmen no later than 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday September 8, 2020.
Notice Under Chapter 427 of the Acts of 2006
AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF SHREWSBURY TO SEND CERTAIN INFORMATION TO THE VOTERS OF THE TOWN.
On August 8, 2020, Town Meeting voted to accept Sections 3 to 7, inclusive, of Chapter 44B of the General Laws, otherwise known as the Massachusetts Community Preservation Act. This vote must also be approved through a ballot question on the November 3, 2020 Presidential Ballot.
In accordance with Chapter 427 of the Acts of 2006; “An Act Authorizing the Town of Shrewsbury to Send Certain Information to the Voters of the Town”, the Board of Selectmen is required to make available to voters certain information concerning these ballot questions. The Board will ensure that no less than 10 days prior to the date of the Presidential Election, such information will be posted on the Town’s website, at each polling place, at the post office, and at the Town office building.
Section 1 of the Act requires the Board of Selectmen or Town Counsel to prepare a fair and concise summary of each ballot question, including one sentence statements indicating the effect of “yes” and “no” votes. In addition, the Board must arrange for the preparation of arguments in favor or opposed to each question to be prepared by principal proponents/opponents of the question best able to present those arguments.
While there is no specific mechanism in the Act for identifying principal proponents or opponents, the Act references ballot question committees and petitioners. The Act also specifically authorizes arguments to be prepared by a Town officer or committee. Therefore, as required by the Act, the Town is seeking persons who want to be identified as principal opponents to prepare arguments opposing the passage of the question:
Shall the Town of Shrewsbury accept sections 3 to 7, inclusive, of Chapter 44B of the General Laws, as approved by its legislative body (Town Meeting) on August 8, 2020, a summary of which appears below?
If accepted, Sections 3 to 7 of Chapter 44B of the General Laws of Massachusetts, also known as the Community Preservation Act, will enable the Town to establish a dedicated funding source which may be used to (1) acquire and preserve open space, which includes land for the protection of public drinking water supplies, well fields, aquifers and recharge areas, wetlands, farm land, forest land, scenic areas and other conservation areas, and land for recreational use, such as parks, playgrounds, trails, and athletic fields (2) acquire and restore historic resources, such as buildings and sites; and (3) create low and moderate income housing for individuals and families, including low or moderate income senior housing.
In Shrewsbury, the funding source for these Community Preservation Act purposes will be a surcharge of one percent (1%) on the annual property tax assessed on real property, beginning in Fiscal Year 2022, and by annual distributions made by the state from a trust fund established by the Act. The state trust fund benefits only municipalities that have accepted the Community Preservation Act.
The following exemptions will apply to the 1% surcharge on real property taxes: (1) property owned and occupied as a domicile by any person who qualifies for low income housing or low or moderate income senior housing in the Town, as defined in Section 2 of said Act; (2) $100,000 of the value of each taxable parcel of residential real property; and (3) $100,000 of the value of each taxable parcel of class three, commercial property, and class four, industrial property, as defined in General Laws Chapter 59, Section 2A. A taxpayer receiving a regular property tax abatement or exemption will also receive a pro rata reduction in the surcharge.
If accepted, a Community Preservation Committee will be established by Town bylaw, to be a public body composed of local citizens. The Community Preservation Committee will be responsible to study the needs, possibilities and resources of the Town regarding community preservation. The Community Preservation Committee shall make recommendations on the use of funds for any of the purposes listed above; all expenditures must be approved by vote of Town Meeting. In each fiscal year, at least 10% of the annual revenue collected under the Act must be appropriated or reserved for future spending by the Town for acquisitions and initiatives in each of the categories of allowable community preservation purposes: (1) open space (including recreational land), (2) historic resources, and (3) community housing.
YES _____ NO ______
If interested, please inform the Board of Selectmen no later than 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday September 8, 2020.
If no persons identify themselves as interested in preparing arguments in opposition of the passage of the questions, and/or if no arguments are received by the deadline designated by the date to be voted on by the Board of Selectmen on September 8, 2020, the Act requires that Town Counsel prepare the arguments.
Please contact the Board of Selectmen by mail at 100 Maple Avenue or by email at selectmen@shrewsburyma.gov to submit a letter of interest or with any further questions at 508-841-8508. Mail-in interest must be received by the deadline.