preservation

Since being passed into law in 2001, The Community Preservation Act has helped communities across the state save public areas threatened by development, rescue historic gems from the erosions of time, and create much-needed affordable housing units. These funds are currently being threatened by the lack of state funds sustaining the CPA, while a recent bill, filed by Sen. Cynthia Creem, is designed to close these loopholes, and secure state funds for the CPA. More information on communities that are working to utilize the CPA, and how your community can realize the benefits of the Act can be found at the Community Preservation Coalition.

The Boston Globe ran an article about the four most recent communities to take advantage of the Community Preservation Act in Massachusetts. It is a classic case of folks coming together--via the town meeting and supported by the state--to help plan essential structures in their communities...

The Community Preservation Act, the state law that lets municipalities levy a property tax surcharge of up to 3 percent to fund open space, historic preservation, affordable housing, and recreation projects won approval in all four area towns where it appeared on the ballot this spring: Hanson, Plympton, Stoughton, and West Bridgewater.

"People are willing to pay when they know it's going to do good things for the community," Chris Iannitelli, who served on West Bridgewater's pro-CPA ballot committee, said of the vote in his town. "We've been hearing so long that people want to see the community stay the way it is. And this act helps to preserve the community."