Two More Towns Move CPA Surcharge Increase to Ballot Vote this Fall
May 6, 2014: Last night, two more communities, Amherst and Essex, voted at their Town Meeting to place a CPA surcharge increase question on their next regularly scheduled election ballots. The two towns are joined by Manchester, which voted earlier this spring to put a 1.5% to 3% surcharge increase on its May 20th ballot. Next November, Amherst residents will decided whether to increase their surcharge from 1.5% to 3%, while Essex will put a 0.5% to 1% increase to a ballot vote.
Historically, only four communities have successfully voted to increase their CPA surcharge. If Manchester and Amherst succeed in this year's attempt, they will be come the first two communities to ever to increase their town's surcharge twice. In 2010, Manchester increased from 0.5% to 1.5% and Amherst's 2006 election enacted a 1% to 1.5% increase. Amherst tried an increase again in 2008, this time to 3%, but the vote failed 51% to 49% at the ballot. This is Essex's first surcharge increase attempt.