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AC–2015ATM PPROPRIATIONOMMITTEE A new Revolving Fund was created for the Visitor’s Center by action of the Selectmen and this Commit- tee. In September 2014, the Town’s Economic Development Office assumed the operation of the Lexing- ton Visitors Center and Gift Shop, formerly run by the Lexington Chamber of Commerce. FY2016 will be the first full year of operation of the Visitor Center under the Town’s jurisdiction. The Committee recommends approval of this request (8-0). FundsFunding Committee Article 8: Appropriate the FY16 RequestedSourceRecommendation Community Preservation $1,222,813CPA Committee Budget and CPA Approve (8-0) $336,500GF Debt except8(c) (3-3-2), Projects $193,000Rec. EF 8(g)IP $1,752,313 The Community Preservation Act (CPA) is a state statute that allows municipalities to raise a surcharge on property taxes for local use for purposes related to historic preservation, open space (including recrea- tion), and affordable housing. The State provides matching funds (the amount depending on monies available and demand from adopting communities) from fees imposed on real estate transactions, includ- ing mortgage refinancing. While the CPA provides broad guidance on the appropriate use of funds, it allows for a considerable measure of local control by 1) establishing a local Community Preservation Committee (CPC) to review and make recommendations on candidate CPA projects to Town Meeting and 2) authorizing Town Meet- ing to approve CPC-recommended projects. Town Meeting may not increasea CPC-recommended ap- propriation, nor may it alter the stated purpose of an appropriation, but it may amend to decreasean ap- propriation. Communities adopting the CPA have each implemented the statute in a way that reflects local opportuni- ties, priorities and needs. One of Lexington’s opportunities lies in the inventory of municipal and school buildings that qualify as historic buildings and which are therefore eligible for CPA funding. These pro- jects can be funded through a combination of Lexington taxpayers’ CPA surcharges and State matching funds. Since Lexington’s adoption of the Community Preservation Act in 2006, the CPC has recommended and Town Meeting has approved a total of $59,915,893 for CPA projects. These funds have supported 40 his- toric preservation projects, preserved 78 acres of open space, created or preserved 15 recreational facili- ties, and created or supported 249 units of affordable housing. Of this total, $11,380,622 or 19% of the Town’s total project costs (exclusive of Administrative expenses) has been received from the State as matching funds. Funding Sources and CPA Categories The requests recommended by the CPC are listed below. The funding source for each request is entirely CPA-based unless otherwise noted. All CPA projects must qualify for CPA funding under one (or more) of the following categories: Open Space, Historic Resources, Affordable Housing, or Outdoor Recreation. The CPA fund has a restricted account for each category, along with an Unallocated Reserve that can be used for any qualifying project. CPA funds are appropriated from an eligible restricted account when fea- sible, or from the Unallocated Reserve. Article 8(a) Conservation Meadow Preservation Program - $26,400 This represents the first of a multi-year project to preserve and protect Lexington’s conservation mead- ows, for their historical landscape significance, including historic stonewalls and vistas, for passive recre- ation, and for enhanced wildlife and habitat. In year one of the project, Hennessey Field and Joyce Mil- ler’s Meadow will be preserved, for a total of approx. 8 acres. The project entails extensive woody vege- 19