Sections 3 to 7 of Chapter 44B of the General Laws of Massachusetts, also known as the Community Preservation Act ("Act"), established a dedicated funding source to acquire, create, and preserve open space, historic resources, land for recreational use, and community housing, and to rehabilitate and restore such open space, historic resources, land for recreational use and community housing acquired or created as provided under said Act. In Ayer, the Act was approved by Town Meeting and accepted by the voters with funding by an additional surcharge of 3% on the annual tax levy on real property. Town Meeting has voted to reduce this surcharge to 1%. The exemptions from such surcharge shall remain in force and effect.