Medford Residents to Vote on Tax Surcharge

Come election day on Nov. 3, residents in Medford will vote on a tax surcharge, which will support open space purchases and preservation needs.

The Community Preservation Act permits a property tax surcharge of up to 3 percent for open space, preservation needs, affordable housing and other recreation projects. Hundreds of towns and cities across Massachusetts have already adopted the act.

The surcharge would carry exemptions for the first $100,000 of residential property value, the first $100,000 of commercial property value, and low income and low and moderate income senior homeowners.

In Medford, officials have proposed a 1.5 percent surcharge. The estimated annual cost to homeowners in Medford would be $53. The proposed surcharge would raise roughly $1 million each year for the City of Medford.

If Medford does adopt the act, the funds could address a number local needs including the rehabilitation of the Royall House, Chevalier Theater, Brooks Estate, and a Riverwalk expansion, among other eligible projects.