SUMMARY This question involves amendment of the Town's acceptance of G.L. c.44B, sections 3-7, also known as the Community Preservation Act (the 'Act'), by increasing the surcharge imposed on real property from one-half percent (.5%) to one percent (1%) of the tax levy, as determined annually by the Board of Assessors. The Act allows municipalities to impose a surcharge on real property to establish a dedicated source of funds for: the acquisition, preservation and creation of open space; the acquisition, preservation, restoration and rehabilitation of historic resources; the acquisition, creation, preservation, rehabilitation and restoration of land for recreational use; the creation, preservation and support of community housing; and the rehabilitation or restoration of open space and community housing that is acquired or created as provided under said Act. The following exemptions from such surcharge, permitted under Section 3(e) of said Act, apply: (1) $100,000 of the value of each taxable parcel of residential real property; and upon application and a determination of eligibility, (2) property owned and occupied as a domicile by a person who would qualify for low income housing or low or moderate income senior housing in the Town. A taxpayer receiving a regular property tax abatement or exemption will also receive a pro rata reduction in surcharge. As approved by the voters at the 2008 biennial state election, the surcharge was initially fixed at three percent (3%) of the annual property tax assessed on real property. A decrease in the surcharge to one-half percent (.5%) was later approved under Article 2 of the March 26, 2009 Special Town Meeting and by the voters at the 2009 Annual Town Election. On a motion made under Article 35 of the May 7, 2018 Annual Town Meeting, the Northfield Town Meeting voted to increase the surcharge to one percent (1%). If approved, the additional surcharge would be imposed on taxes assessed for fiscal years beginning July 1, 2019.""