Vote NO on Question 1 on May 2nd

I can’t help but notice that many of the same people that are supporting the passage of the CPA tax override are the same people that told Danvers taxpayers that we could not afford a $30 million middle school renovation in 2002 without passing a Proposition 21/2 override. Not only was the middle school project completed on time and under budget, it was also completed without an override.

Their next assumption was that we would certainly need an override if we ever expected to build a new high school. Boy, were they wrong.

Not only did the town complete a $71 million renovation of Danvers High School without an override, we also renovated the Town Hall at a cost of $6.4 million, built a new water treatment plant for $20.4 million, upgraded the HVAC system at the library for $1.9 million. All of this was completed without any override, or even the discussion of needing additional revenue. The funding for these projects was, in large part, due to a comprehensive debt plan authored by me.

We were then told that the best way to fund the construction of the new Smith school was... you guessed it... an OVERRIDE! Another attempt that was not needed.

Now, we are being told that must now accept the Community Preservation Act tax in order to create a special revenue stream to fund projects in the areas of open space, historic preservation, recreation, and affordable housing. This could not be further from the truth. Each of these special interests are well-funded under the current budget process.

Taxation was used for the purchase of open space at Lebel’s Grove ($1.54 million) which was purchased in 2012, yet still no plan for its use.

Taxation was used to pay for athletic fields (recreation) at Danvers High School with a project price of $6.4 million.

The town worked to receive a $750,000 grant for preservation of the historic train station. The grant was made available in 2014, yet the station still has not been moved or renovated, and there is no plan for its use if it is ever moved or renovated.

The Danvers Affordable Housing Trust had $623,706 in the trust’s Massachusetts Municipal Depository Trust Account as of May 18, 2016, and a revenue stream created by the inclusionary zoning bylaw, passed by Town Meeting.

CPA funds are designated for open space, recreation, historic preservation, and affordable housing, but the town already supports these four areas without a special tax increase.

There is no need for CPA in Danvers.

Please vote no on Question 1.