1. What is the Community Preservation Act?

Established by the Massachusetts Legislature in 2000, the Community Preservation Act is a way for cities and towns to counter the effects of unchecked development. The CPA lets communities vote to apply a property tax surcharge of 1/2% to 3%, with funds dedicated to the preservation of open space, historic restoration, community housing, and parks and recreation.

Funds are matched by the state through a statewide surcharge on real estate transactions. There is about $130 million in the fund today. Currently the state provides a 100% match, but that percentage may decrease in the next few years as more communities adopt the CPA. So far, 103 cities and towns have voted to join in.

Decisions about how to spend CPA funds are made locally by a five- to nine-member Community Preservation Committee, which holds public meetings, evaluates proposals, and forwards recommendations to Town Meeting, who has the final say.

[top of page]

2. How Will the Community Preservation Act Work in Natick?

On March 28, Natick's voters will decide whether to adopt the CPA in Natick.

Question 1 in Natick proposes:

• A surcharge of 1%

• Exemptions for low-income families, low- and moderate-income seniors

• Exemption for the first $100,000 of assessed residential property value

In the first year, Natick could raise approximately $460,000 from the CPA.

With the state match at 100%, that would bring in $920,000 for Natick projects.

[top of page]

3. Assessor surcharge calculation

[top of page]

4. Who decides how the money gets spent?

Working together to make things happen

To get good things done in the common interest, people must work together effectively and find creative ways to solve problems. The CPA is designed with this in mind.

If Natick voters pass the CPA, the next Town Meeting will create a Community Preservation Committee. The CPC holds public meetings, considers proposals about how to spend CPA funds, and makes recommendations to the Finance Committee and Town Meeting, which has
final say. The CPC must issue an annual report to the town.

The CPC would include representatives from these boards:
Planning Board
Conservation Commission
Historical Commission
Parks and Recreation Commission
Housing Authority

The Board of Selectmen has also recommended appointing four at-large members to the CPC. All these volunteers must work together. It's important that the recommendations of the CPC be aligned with the overall fiscal policies of the Town. The job of the CPC is to get the most bang for our CPA buck.

top of page