What is the Natick Community Preservation Alliance?
The Community Preservation Alliance was created in November 2004 to educate the community about the Community Preservation Act, and to help lead the way towards an eventual ballot question and adoption of the CPA. [top of page]

What is the Community Preservation Act?
The CPA was enacted by the Massachusetts Legislature in 2000 as a means to help communities plan for and fund local decisions about Affordable Housing, Historic Preservation and Open Space.  For an in-depth review of the act, see http://www.communitypreservation.org. [top of page]

Why Affordable Housing, Historic Preservation and Open Space?
Affordable Housing, Historic Preservation and Open Space are essential to every community and to the quality of life we all seek to enjoy.  But they are continually threatened both by development and by economic trends that understandably make other municipal services and expenditures (such as education, highways and public safety) a higher priority.  The CPA is a tool to help communities preserve green space, heritage and economic diversity without compromising in other important areas. [top of page]

How does it work?
When a community enacts the CPA, it approves a surcharge on local property taxes from between one-half of
one percent and three percent, with possible exemptions for low-income families, low- and moderate-income seniors, and for the first $100,000 of property value. [top of page]

What other cities and towns have adopted the CPA?
Currently over 100 cities and towns all across Massachusetts have implemented the CPA, including several in MetroWest (Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton, Lincoln, Medway, Norfolk, Southborough, Sudbury, Upton, Wayland and Wellesley).  Concord, Needham and Northborough just passed the CPA in November 2004.  In the Spring of 2006, 11 more communities will vote on the CPA. [top of page]
 
What did these towns do with the CPA funds?
In Ashland, the town bought the historic train station near downtown that was going to be demolished.  They have renovated the structure, enhanced the open space around the structure and have created affordable housing.  Check the searchable database of projects funded by the CPA.  [top of page]
 
What will it cost Natick Taxpayers?
Every dollar that Natick invests in the CPA is matched by the State, and all funds are spent locally.  The Natick ballot question asks for a 1% surcharge with exemptions for low/moderate income seniors and low/moderate income seniors. The CPA is estimated to increase the average residential tax bill in Natick by approximately $35.  There is a CPA Cost Calculator at http://www.communitypreservation.org/cpacalculator.cfm [top of page]

Who decides how the money is spent?
A locally appointed committee under local control, by means of a process that includes our representative Town Meeting, makes funding decisions.  At least 10% of annual expenditures must be made in each of the three categories. There is some latitude in identifying and qualifying expenditures under each category. The Natick Board of Selectmen will hold a public hearing and recommend to Spring 2006 Town Meeting a process of creating the Community Preservation Committee. [top of page]

Does the money need to be spent every year?
No.  Many communities have saved most of the money in order to afford a more significant expenditure than they could make using just a single year’s worth of revenue. [top of page]

Can the CPA be changed or repealed?
Yes.  A community can change the surcharge or the exemptions through a ballot question, and it may be repealed altogether after five years. [top of page]
 
What will the Community Preservation Alliance do?
We are advocating for passage of the CPA at the ballot on March 28, 2006 through education and outreach. We encourage Natick voters to consider our community's past, present and future and identify the things we want to preserve and strengthen for today and tomorrow. [top of page]

What will the Community Preservation Act do for Natick?
That depends entirely on what Natick wants from the CPA, and is a question the community will answer for itself, in part by asking: what are the assets (affordable housing, historic places and things, and common ground like parks and green space) that can help us preserve and enhance our sense of community?  We will promote a process in which these assets are identified, so that Natick voters have something tangible to associate with the CPA.  The CPA, with state matching funds, can be used for certain projects that would otherwise be funded by the regular Natick budget - which frees up tax money.  [top of page]

See the CPA Projects page for examples of what Natick might do with the CPA. The actual projects depend on proposals received by the Community Preservation Committee, the recommendations of the CPC, and the approval of Town Meeting. [top of page]

How can I participate?
We are glad to have your support! Please get in touch through our web contact form, or check the newspapers and local cable TV for news about the CPA. Please VOTE YES on March 28th, and tell your family, friends and neighbors. Check out the Good For Natick News, [in PDF format] a newsletter we have produced for voters in the March 28 Election. We also need people to help by donating money, writing Dear Friends cards, putting up a lawn sign, holding sings on election day, distributing leaflets, etc....[top of page]

What if I have more questions?
Please get in touch using our web contact form so that we can expand this Q&A to make it more useful.

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