Dear Watertown Voter,
I understand it can be difficult to keep an open mind throughout a campaign, especially once folks become invested on one side of an issue. Emotions can run deep and opinions become cemented before understanding all of the facts. I am also concerned about underestimating the impacts of Watertown’s rapid transformation.
When approached by the citizen-led Invest in Watertown Committee, I initially expressed concerns about adopting the Community Preservation Act (CPA) this November, given our school building needs and the timing of even a small surcharge on taxpayers, knowing it can be a tough sell any time you seek additional funds. I have attended most of the school-related meetings and community forums this year. In addition to speaking with Watertown constituents, I have researched and spoken with citizens and officials in CPA-adopted communities. My questions included: is this something that could benefit our schools as well as our whole community? The answers kept coming back: yes, yes, and yes.
There are many reasons why I am voting Yes on 5, more than can be fully explained in one letter. But here are just a few good reasons to consider it: Vote Yes on 5 if for no other reason than to return our contributions toward the state CPA trust fund and claim our share of state matching funds. Monies generated from real estate development and income tax currently support the CPA trust fund. But they are supporting all the exciting things that other communities are doing, instead of Watertown. We have paid over $2 million into this trust fund, and we will effectively continue to subsidize other cities and towns if we do not adopt the CPA on November 8.
What I find so exciting about the Community Preservation Act is how it stimulates creative and innovative proposals to meet the needs of a town, while improving public life and programs for all. Just one of hundreds of examples: Arlington leveraged their CPA funds in support of replacement windows at Drake Village senior complex, to also receive a state HILAPP program match; put another way, $200K of their CPA funds provided the seed to attract the remaining 70% needed for this $1.8 million project! The surcharge that Watertown taxpayers would contribute (about $10/month) goes a longer way than one might expect at first glance. I also find it worrisome that we would lose out on about $500,000 from the state match in the first year alone, if we vote No on 5.
The CPA works so well that not only has no community advocated its repeal, its adoption has stimulated public participation in defining and reclaiming the local community vision. It empowers citizens and is progressive in its funding with exemptions for low-income households and moderate-low-income seniors. CPA project recommendation and approval process is specifically designed to be participatory -Watertown residents and Town Council get to decide what, how and when the funds are used. Arlington has decided to renovate Robbins Farm Park Field with enhanced ADA compliance, but this is just one of five projects recently approved. Waltham and Newton have created homebuyer and rental assistance programs. Year after year our surrounding neighbors are finding ways to enhance and preserve what is special, unique and meaningful while reducing competition for capital funds.
And CPA allows regional collaborations, which means cities and towns can pools their funds for mutual benefit even if the location of “the project” lies fully in one community, including recreational fields. Imagine the possibilities for collaboration if we decide to team up with Waltham, Belmont, Newton, Cambridge – all of whom have already adopted CPA.
CPA funds are used for open space and recreation, community housing, and historic preservation –which includes archives, artifacts, archaeology; we have many needs in order to claim our historical heritage including preserving maps and documents, whether they are in the Assessor’s office, the Commander’s Mansion, or the Police Department, etc. You can see there is much to ponder.
I ask for your willingness to consider the many facts and benefits about the Community Preservation Act before voting. I welcome your questions. Learn more from the public database at CommunityPreservation.org or InvestInWatertown.wordpress.com or even YesBetterBoston.com websites. I hope you will join me in voting Yes on 5.
Sincerely,
Lisa Feltner, District B Town Councillor
LFeltner@watertown-ma.gov
www.LisaFeltner.com
Interesting Councilor… I wonder however how many of these communities that bought into this sham, have issued bonds for projects and can’t get rid of the surtax until they’re paid off. So at that point it makes no sense for them to repudiate this horrible regressive tax.
And wow, all these creative things that can done !!! OK NAME ONE SPECIFIC PROJECT THAT YOU WILL USE THIS MONEY FOR. HOW MUCH WILL IT COST? HOW LONG WILL TAKE ?
Seems to me the creativity on how to spend money ought to happen before you extort from taxpayers.
John,
I just posted on this. Please educate yourself. The CPA can be repealed anytime. The debt will still be owed however.
Secondly, it’s been explained to you time and again that projects need to be vetted and voted on by the CPA committee – then approved by the school committee. Specific projects haven’t been chosen ahead of the selection committee…
Can you tell us exactly how much it will cost us to renovate each school. HOW MUCH WILL EACH SCHOOL COST? HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE? HOW MANY ESTIMATES HAVE YOU RECEIVED? OR IS THE DEBT EXCLUSION SCHOOL MONEY JUST A SLUSH FUND?? Don’t you see how silly this argument is? I think everyone else does..
As another commenter noted, you have to wait 5 years to put a repeal up to vote, but after that you can do it any time.