Saying residents would suffer from additional taxes, the Planning Board will not support enacting the Community Preservation Act in town.

The act allows communities to levy a property tax surcharge to generate money for projects involving open space protection, historic preservation, affordable housing and recreation.

Recently, the Open Space Action Committee announced a campaign to educate the public on the act’s benefits.

Most residents would end up paying $50 a year into the fund, according to committee member Rosemary Smith.

The committee proposed a surcharge of 1.5 percent for local property tax bills with an exemption for the first $100,000 of residential property value. Waivers are available for the elderly and low-income residents to avoid the surcharge, Smith said.

Surcharge funds are redistributed to preservation act communities, along with additional state funds.

Smith said this year the state estimates it will disburse a match of 26 percent of the amount each community raises through the local surcharge.

However, she noted the disbursement rate changes year-to-year and is down from the 100 percent rate it was when the act first passed. Smith noted the current rate is still a good investment for residents.

About $114,071 would be generated annually, she said, noting that figure doesn’t account for matching state funds.

The committee seeks to put the question before voters at Fall Town Meeting for a second time. In 2006, Town Meeting rejected the act by 26 votes.

Planning Board member Susan Teal, the only member who expressed support for the act, said the town has lost access to $750,000 since 2006 because of that vote.

Repairs could have been made to Town Hall and the Dexter Lane ball fields with those funds, Teal said.

Planning Board Chair Arnie Johnson objected, saying many in town can’t afford an increase in taxes.

“The money we leave on the table doesn’t outweigh the hurt we put on taxpayers in town and the elderly,” Johnson said.

Residents already support open space, Johnson, a member of the Rochester Land Trust, said. Every major conservation or recreation purchase that appeared at Town Meeting was approved, he said.

Instead of rasing taxes, money should be moved from the stabilization fund to existing open space and recreation enterprise accounts the town has, Johnson said.

The rest of the board opposed the act, citing the hardship it would impose.

“You can tell me the economy is getting better. I don’t see it getting any better. I know people that struggle to pay their taxes,” board member Michael Murphy said.

Board member Ben Bailey said the surcharge may not be much, but asked: “Even if it is $50, why would I want to pay?”

Smith said the committee will continue to seek input from town boards and residents.

Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon, who appeared alongside Smith, said the Open Space Committee had considered the impact on residents.

“It’s time to bring [the act] to the taxpayers and let them decide,” she said. “They have a right to consider it.”