Ayer CPC Urges Yes Vote on June 2 Surcharge Ballot Question

AYER -- May 20, 2020, Ayer's Community Preservation Committee held a public information session to build support for a June 2 ballot question raising the Community Preservation Act surcharge from 1 percent to 3 percent. CPC Chair Janet Providakis read an open letter acknowledging committee members are "torn" over the timing during the COVID-19 crisis but argued the increase positions the town to access two additional rounds of state matching funds, versus the roughly 20 percent single match available at 1 percent. The average homeowner would pay about $99 more per year, the average business about $172 more, according to town assessor figures Providakis cited at the session. The committee's top priority for any new revenue would be a housing trust for residents who fall outside existing state and federal assistance programs, with the Affordable Housing Committee scheduled to meet May 22 and a fall 2020 town meeting vote envisioned to formally create the trust. The town election had originally been set for April before being postponed due to the pandemic; state law required the ballot question to remain on the June 2 ballot regardless.