Community Preservation Act, MA

Former MA Governor Paul Cellucci (with
Lieutenant Governor Jane Swift)
signed the CPA into law, September 2000
Photo by: Liz Uhlin
Between 1950 and 1990, Massachusetts' population swelled by nearly 30 percent while the amount of developed land increased by 188 percent--6 times the population growth. The Community Preservation Act, which became state law in December 2000, is a powerful way for communities to plan development in response to increasing growth pressures. The bill grants the state's 351 cities and towns the right to raise local property taxes to fund land conservation, historic preservation, and affordable housing. It also creates a dedicated state funding source, expected to total approximately $26 million annually, to provide matching funds to participating communities. Scores of communities in the Commonwealth have voted to become eligible for these new state funds by adopting modest local tax increases. As of May 2002, 96 Massachusetts communities have held ballot votes on the issue, with 51--or 53 percent--voting to adopt it. Read more about the Community Preservation Act on TPL's Web site.




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