This Standard Times article gives the information on how to apply for Community Preservation funding. The deadline for applications is March 13th.
Community preservation funds are provided by a surcharge of 1.5% on your property tax and matched by the state at between 5% and 100% of the total levied. The funds may only be used ...
...for historical preservation, open space preservation , recreational uses or affordable housing.
The funding recommendations are made by the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) who are appointed citizens of the town. The Town Meeting appropriates the funds based on the CPC's recommendations.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Community Preservation grant requests
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28 comments:
I hope the CPC is more conservative about how many articles they approve this time around. Last time they approved $1.8mil in requests yet they told town meeting that CPA revenues were projected to be about $900K. Of course town meeting had no problem approving all of it except for the state police barracks which did not get turned down completely. It was postponed until the next meeting.
Westport is talking about eliminating their CPC regs. Dartmouth should be doing the same.
I'll second that!! Finally someone with some brains on this blog. There is hope after all. Unfortunately if that were to happen Gilbert would have nothing to fund the CLUBHOUSE with, now all of you on this BLOG wouldn't want to upset your biggest workhorse now would you?
So Gilbert is a work horse? I like that analogy. Sure beats being a show horse. Vote Gilbert!!!
No, seriously. There was an article in the paper recently about somone who was trying to eliminate the CPC tax in Westport. The aount each taxpayer would save was significant. Of course the guy that runs the CPC gave all the reasons it should not be eliminated but in this economy every penny saved is worth it. Bill do you know what the process would be to eliminate the CPC in Dartmouth? Is there time to get it on this spring town meeting? Thank you.
To those who feel we should not be spending tax dollars on land preservation. I would suggest you do some research on the cost/benefits of development. Studies have shown that the revenues brought in from new homes through property taxes do not cover the cost to a community for infrastructure and services provided. There are some types of developing that have less impact than others but generally the costs outweigh the revenues. The other thing to consider is what happens when you reach buildout? Dartmouth is not far from that point. It works something like an override. You keep building so new revenues cover your expenses but because you keep building your expenses continue to increase. The more you build the more money you need to sustain the town. So what happens when you can't build anymore? Where are new revenues going to come from?
Yes and those studies are funded by groups like the DNRT whose motto has been 'Cows don't need schools' Cows also make great neighbors for those fortunate enough to abut DNRT properties. Everything is on the table as it should be and that should include limiting the amount of money government takes out of my pocket via taxes such as the CPC. It is not a sacred cow in these difficult times just like libraries schools dpw etc...
If you would like to have the CPC fund eliminated I would suggest instead of complaining about it, you do the work necessary to accomplish just that. The time for complaining and whining is over. The time for saying "we can't" is over too. There are people working very hard to promote change and make Dartmouth solvent again. If you cannot help then please step aside and keep your negativity to yourself. Why try to drag everyone else down with you?
Oh I see, negativity is a bad thing when it goes against the grain. Only supportive comments from me from now on. I will look at how to eliminate the Dartmouth CPC so as to save some of my hard earned money. How's that.
Please do. It will be interesting to see how much support the community as a whole has for CPA during these trying times. I support land conservation but I am also very fiscally responsible. As such, I am not sure how I would stand if the issue of eliminating CPA taxes were persued. One thing I can tell you is that I hope you do a better job presenting this article than you did on the recall. Perhaps you should consider a different front man to present it so people don't just dismiss it out of hand because they have no faith in the competance of the article sponsor.
To the guy who wants to eliminate CPA taxes, Aren't you going to need the support of those conservative republicans that you seem to despise in order to get that article passed? Looks like its time for you to eat some humble crow pie before you go begging for forgiveness and support.
hmmm, jumping to conclusions I see. I am not the 'guy' that put up the recall question and special town meeting. I happen to have disagreed with that effort. That you feel only 1 person wants to look at eliminating the CPC tax shows you may not understand the full depth of feeling that exists out there against all these taxes. All these tax initiatives seem like good things when times are flush but need another look in times like this.
Are'nt we suppossed to be looking at everything? Looking for ways to save money for the taxpayers? Keep the land on the tax rolls and the government out of my back pocket please.
As stated in an earlier post. Stop complaining and do the work to eliminate CPA funds. I'm sure you will have public support. As a Dartmouth citizen it is within your power to bring this issue to the voters. Stop complaining and start doing.
I simply asked Bill to enlighten me on the process, was it too late to have included on this spring town meeting agenda? The rudeness displayed here is incredible. I am sorry I asked the question.
It is a good question that would require some research. I would start at the MA GEN. Laws link right here on this site. It works like google. Just type the search words Community Preservation Act and every law with those key words will come up.
I believe that all it would probably take to do what you want would be to put an article before town meeting. If those who backed the recall can do it, I am sure you can too.
It should be noted that most of the land preserved with CPA funds is already off the tax roles under chapter 61A(farmland protection). As I said above, I believe in preserving farms. I am also not totally happy with the way CPC has borrowed money for projects. Some of the projects that have been funded don't thrill me either.
Have you thought about getting on the CPC?
It is definitely NOT too late to get your article before the Spring Town Meeting.
Thanks for the info. I will look into the procedure. I too am not totally against the CPC but the recent use of it to fund so many projects that are all over the map is giving me pause. Like many good things my feeling is that this program has gotten too big and has now saddled us with funding many projects for a long time. The state police barracks, should it pass at spring TM will likely mean we need to spend more money to make it operational and opens up the question about who will fund the building;s upkeep. Thanks again.
Method of revoking CPA authority
CPA remains in effect for a minimum of five years from the date of voter approval in a municipality. After five years, it can be revoked in the same manner–legislative body acceptance (simple majority) or initiative
petition followed by voter approval–used to approve CPA originally.
A municipality may accept or revoke CPA through passage by the legislative body (town meeting or city council) or through a citizen initiative. In either case, CPA must subsequently be approved by a simple majority of local voters in an election.
Legislative:
1) The municipal legislative body (town meeting or city council) must vote to accept or revoke by a simple majority, the provisions of the Community Preservation Act
2) The acts of the town meeting/city council are then referred for voter approval at the next regularly scheduled municipal election or general state election (November of even-numbered years),
whichever comes first. A CPA referendum may not be scheduled for a special election
Thank you Bill for the information.
Yea, after we dismantle the library, the Cpa and our Youth Advocate, we should work on the COA. If we can do the above we are ready to take down public schools. It has to be done, there are no options.
Anonymous, We are all awaiting your alternative solution. What do you propose to do if there is not enough money to fund these things?
As an extreme right wing radical who believes that the only function the government should serve is national defense, I would like to thank the anti-change crowd. Refusing change will ultimately destroy all of our government services as we know them. Again, thanks for joining the cause.
Let's see here.
First we take revenue generating land and lock it up by purchasing it with money. Where does the money come from?
1 CPA 1.5% surcharge on your tax bill, and a 100% match from the state.
2 Agricultural Trust fund which is nearly Depleted, a 2.5 million dollar fund gone
3 Then the final step, money from the General Fund voted on by Town Meeting. That probably was taken from the Stab Fund.
So 3 times, no sorry 4 times your wallet was raided. So someone can keep development from visiting their backyard. Oh and the best part don't forget the TAX shelter you get from giving up your land for conservation. Just like the $12,000 tax break just approved for the wonderful folks down on MISHAUM POINT. In a time when revenues are short a $12,000 break is what is needed, right? Also remember that the CPA account is currently overfunded by nearly a $1,000,000.
Also don't forget Dartmouth's version of the movie "The Money PIT" down on the corner of Rockland and Dartmouth St. Anyone driven by McCoy Stadium down there on Rockland St. lately, i was wondering did they have Sodium Halide lighting back then? What's with all the lights, is there gold in there? Who's paying for all the Electricity anyway?
So let's please keep up the Nimby project, full steam ahead, that way we can burn the candle at both ends by spending tax dollars to buy land and not keep the revenue stream going with SMART develoment, and not vote for overrides. That way we bankrupt our community, but South Dartmouth will look beautiful with all those none tax money using cows. Hey wait i can't remember seeing any cows down there, all i see are empty lots next to big Beautiful homes. That's right NIMBY!!
Oh and please hold the comments about polls talking about how Dartmouth wants preservation. I DARE you to run that Poll again.
Wrong, Wrong, Wrong
The CPC fund is not getting a 100% match from the state.
No money from the general fund was used for land conservation purposes, only CPA funds.
Most of the farmland conserved is already paying a small fraction of property taxes under chapter 61A.
Are there any others lies that you would like to post?
read below and see who's lying now CRUELLA
Section 3.0 Background
The Souza/Lagasse Farm has been historically used for agriculture. Part of the property has also been used as a gravel yard. The most recent agricultural uses include cultivation of corn on the majority of the property, and growing Asian pears on a smaller section of the property.
During 2003, The Town of Dartmouth chose to buy this property in order to prevent its conversion from agriculture uses to residential use. Funding was obtained through a combination of contributions from the Agricultural Preservation Trust Fund, the Community Preservation Committee and the Town of Dartmouth’s General Fund.
My remarks about no money taken from the general fund were for this year. I should have clarified. This gets you off the hook for being WRONG on that one. You are STILL WRONG on your two other points. Do you care to admit it or would you rather just do some more name calling?
Since you want to go back to 2003,it should be noted that taking money from the general fund for land preservation was done under different leadership than we have today.
Yea, the same leadership that guy wants to go back to!
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