Changes to the Community Preservation Act (CPA) in the House budget – now being added to the Senate budget through amendments – would bring more money to communities and allow for expanded, more flexible use of the funds.
State Sen. Michael R. Knapik (R-Westfield) said he supports the proposed changes.
“This would allow cities to use CPA funds on existing parks and playgrounds, not just build new ones,” said Knapik. “A lot of towns have tired, old playgrounds and could not use CPA funds in the past to improve them.”
Knapik said in land-locked areas, this was a big problem because there was nowhere to build.
The CPA was adopted in 2000 by former Gov. Paul Cellucci. Since then, 150 communities across the Commonwealth have adopted the CPA as a way to help fund open space, housing and historic rehabilitation projects.
Adopting the CPA means a community has agreed to a property tax surcharge of up to three percent. The original intent of the CPA, said Knapik, was to have the state match those funds 100 percent.
“The state is down to matching only about 20 percent,” Knapik said. “The amendment would give communities more funds from the state, although not 100 percent.”
Other proposed changes would enable municipalities to use hotel excise taxes, linkage fees, property sale revenues, parking fees and private gifts to pay for the CPA. The House plan enables the use of CPA funds on athletic fields, parks and playgrounds, and allows communities to create a small business property tax exemption on the first $100,000 of property value.
“It’s a good change,” Knapik said of the CPA amendment.
