BOSTON (AP) - Voters in 16 Massachusetts cities and towns, including Boston and Springfield, will be deciding whether to adopt the Community Preservation Act.
The state law creates a dedicated funding source for such things as affordable housing, preservation of open space for parks and recreation, and restoration of historic buildings.
Taxpayers in cities and towns that opt in to the CPA pay a surcharge on their property tax bills. More than 160 communities have adopted it so far.
The CPA appears as Question 5 on the Nov. 8 ballots in Amesbury, Billerica, Boston, Chelsea, Danvers, East Bridgewater, Holyoke, Mendon, Norwood, Palmer, Pittsfield, Rockland, South Hadley, Springfield, Watertown and Wrentham.
The proposed annual surcharges range from 1 percent in Boston to 3 percent in Mendon. Some low-income and elderly homeowners would be exempt.
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