Full and original article posted on WGBH
This election, there’s more on Worcester voters’ ballots than candidate races and statewide referendum amendments.
Ballot Question 5 asks Worcester residents whether they support a 1.5% surcharge on their property taxes. As part of the Massachusetts Community Preservation Act, the city of Worcester would use the surcharge revenue for projects that create and preserve open space, recreational land and community housing.
The majority of Massachusetts municipalities have already chosen to participate in the Community Preservation Act, an optional statewide program. Under state law, cities and towns that want to join the program must do so by ballot measure. In addition to the local surcharge, participating municipalities receive money from the state for CPA projects.
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