Scamperings

You probably know about the 4 ballot questions for Massachusetts this upcoming election (slot machines, charter schools, animal cruelty, marijuana) -- did you know that Boston will have a 5th Question? It hasn't been talked about much!

It's about the Community Preservation Act, which would establish funding for affordable housing, parks, and preservation projects out of a 1% increase in property tax (with certain exemptions) plus matching state funds. Below I've copied the text from page 5 of the Boston ballot questions PDF:

And here are some resources and articles I dug up, since I don't know much about it myself:

• CPA tax calculator to see what the additional surcharge would be. (For the 3-story house I live in in Lower Allston, the additional yearly tax would be about $70.)
• There's an editorial in the Boston Globe arguing for it. Apparently 160 other towns have already opted in to the CPA.
• Marty Walsh supports it
• Wikipedia

...and that's all I've found so far, although I need to check in with one of housemates who I think has more details.