The Community Preservation Committee wants residents to tell them how they would like to see the town’s preservation money spent.

On Wednesday, the committee started the application process by holding a public hearing. In October, Town Meeting voters will be asked to fund potential projects.

Before Town Meeting, the committee will evaluate submitted projects, said committee member Norman Hills.

The deadline to submit applications to the committee is Aug. 23. Applications are available in Marion’s Town House.

The committee has about $65,000 available for qualified projects, Hills said. In 2005, Marion adopted the Community Preservation Act. The town receives funds from two sources, a local property tax surcharge and an annual distribution from the state.

At least 10 percent of the funding must be spent on each of the following three categories: affordable housing, historic preservation, and open space. The remaining 70 percent may be spent on projects in any of those categories, plus recreation.

Until 2007, funds were distributed to communities that had approved the act at a match rate of 100 percent. The current match rate has dropped to 25 percent, Hills said.

In the past, the committee has approved projects that renovated the steeple on the Marion Arts Center and replaced windows in Handy’s Tavern. Typically the committee approves one or two projects each year, Hills said.