CPA promotes good fiscal policy

Dear Editor:

The Community Preservation Act (CPA), if passed at our April 3 municipal election, will create jobs, encourage a culture of saving for the future, help protect our good credit rating, give us better control of future 40B housing, and reduce the need for a 2 ½ tax override.

CPA creates jobs by putting people to work restoring our historical structures, acquiring and improving open space for recreation, and creating affordable housing for seniors, veterans and others.

CPA funds can be saved from year to year until the perfect project comes along. If nothing peaks the interest of our Community Preservation Committee (CPC), then no money is spent. If a project is approved by the CPC, it must then pass muster at our Annual Town Meeting. Even if we don’t spend a dime for ten years, matching funds still flow from the state to Canton every year.

CPA can help improve a town’s credit rating. Last November, Moody’s Investors Services upgraded Northhampton’s credit rating by two steps in part due to “the overwhelming decision by voters to keep the Community Preservation Act during the November election.” (www.communitypreservation.org/Northampton_Bond_Rating_Republican.pdf)

CPA can be of great use in controlling the nature of future state-mandated 40B housing. By using CPA to create affordable housing for our seniors, veterans and others, we can build housing uninfluenced by interests outside Canton.

CPA can help prevent future 2 ½ tax overrides by replacing municipal funding with CPA funding. Large projects, such as past renovations at the Elliot School, Town Hall and library, and small projects like the replacement of the handicap access at the Hemenway, could have been funded partially or even fully by CPA. Virtually all capital improvements at Pequitside could be funded by CPA.

CPA makes sense for Canton, especially in this economy. Voting for CPA on April 3 is a vote for responsible fiscal policy.

Yours truly,

Bruce Rohr

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=12404

Posted by Canton Citizen on Mar 21 2012. Filed under From One Citizen to Another, Opinion, Town Election. Both comments and pings are currently closed.