>BY DENNIS SHAUGHNESSEY, VALLEY DISPATCH STAFF

DRACUT — With the price of fuel, food and utilities at an all-time high, Selectman James O’Loughlin is wondering if it might be time to revisit the town’s participation in the Community Preservation program.

“I’ve been talking to more and more residents who are concerned about the 2 percent levy that is automatically added to their tax bill,” O’Loughlin said, adding that there is currently $6 million sitting idly in the town’s CPC coffers. “We don’t appear to have any projects on the table at this time, and yet we continue to impose this tax on our residents during this economic downturn.”

In 2000, Town Meeting voters supported the Community Preservation Act as a means to protect open space and historic sites and to create affordable housing in town.

The act allows cities and towns to create a special property-tax surcharge from 1 to 3 percent. Dracut took the middle ground and voted for a 2 percent increase.

O’Loughlin instructed town officials to look into the ramifications of getting out of the program. “What are our options?” he said. “Can we get out and get back in later when things are a little better? I’m not saying I necessarily want to do this, but I’d like to talk about it. People are trying to heat their homes and put food on the table, and here we are, adding to this $6 million cushion. Are we just going to build this nest from $6 million, to $6.5 million, to $7 million?”

Selectman John Zimini said the program has been a success and enabled the town to protect several parcels for open space that have would have been destined for development. Zimini also pointed out that the state matches funds raised dollar for dollar.

The Community Preservation Committee is currently looking at two large projects, one on Broadway Road and the other at the intersection of Mammoth and Nashua roads.

While CPC Chairman Robert Nicoloro would not address those properties specifically, he did say that several viable projects are in the pipeline.

State funds for participating cities and towns come from deed transfers in various communities. Although that number has declined, Nicoloro said it is important that Dracut keep its place in line.

“You have to maintain that recognition,” Nicoloro said. “As more communities sign on, state matching funds will become competitive. Towns will have to demonstrate what they have done and what they plan to do.”