1. Community Preservation Coalition
Our mission is to help communities understand, adopt, and implement the Community Preservation Act

2. Community Preservation Coalition

3. Local Partnerships
The Taunton River Watershed Campaign is a partnership of organizations working to protect the unique natural resources of the Taunton River Watershed.

4. The Community Preservation Act
Allows communities to establish a dedicated fund for:
Open Space
(and recreation)
Historic Preservation
Affordable Housing

5. Basics of the Act Local adoption needed
Establishes up to a 3% surcharge
on local property taxes
Requires 10% to be spent on
each of the 3 main categories
Allows flexibility for spending the
remaining 70%
Not a permanent commitment
Includes matching funds!

6. Exemptions to the CPA Surcharge
Any existing exemptions apply to CPA.
First $100,000 of property value – exempts the first $100,000 of residential property value from the surcharge.
Low-moderate income – exempts any household that earns less than 80% of area median and any senior (60+) who earns up to 100% of the median.
Commercial/Industrial – uncommon

8. CPA by the numbers (as of end of FY2007)
8377 acres of open space preserved
Funding for over 1300 housing units
Over 700 appropriations for historic resources
Over 350 appropriations for recreation projects
Half a billion dollars raised (surcharge + match)!

9. CPA Trends Recreation and housing growing
CPA is an increasingly important source of matching funds for open space & historic grant programs
Mixed use projects more popular
*Communities using bonding capacity*
*Non-municipal projects growing*

10. Bonding - A powerful CPA Tool
50 municipalities have bonded
A total of 101 different projects
Bonded total: $151 million
Bonds issued in all four categories (majority in Open Space & Historic)
(as of end of FY2008)

11. Funding to non-municipal groups
Allowable under CPA
Very popular; can be controversial
Must demonstrate clear public benefit
a. Deed Restriction, or
b. Public Access
c. Other public benefit -be creative!

12. Revere Bell, Plymouth

14. CPA Challenges Adoption patterns (Western Mass/Cities)
Trust fund matching dollars
Recreation category

16. CPA Trust Fund Trust Fund Revenue FY 2002 41.3 Million FY 2003
FY 2008 (est)
$27.0 Million

17. Match Distributed Every
CPA Trust Fund
Match Distributed Every
October 15
FY 2002
$17.8 Million
FY 2003
$27.2 Million
FY 2004
$31.4 Million
FY 2005
$46.3 Million
FY 2006
$58.6 Million
FY 2007
$68.1 Million
FY 2008 (est)
$72 Million

18. Solution: Amend CPA HB 4820 More attractive adoption option for cities
Increase trust fund revenue to guarantee a 75% match on first round
Clarify recreation language

19. Agenda - Pipeline for day
Workshop Session 1 – 70 minutes
10 minute break
Workshop Session 2 – 70 minutes
Optional Q&A