ABOUT THE COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT (CPA)

After Boston voters adopted the CPA in November 2016, the City created a Community Preservation Fund. This fund is capitalized primarily by a one percent property tax-based surcharge on residential and business property tax bills that began in July 2017. The City uses this revenue to fund initiatives consistent with statewide CPA guidelines: affordable housing, historic preservation, and open space and public recreation. The funding of any project requires a recommendation from the Community Preservation Committee and appropriation by the City. www.boston.gov/cpa

ALLOWABLE USES OF CPA FUNDS

The allowable uses of CPA funds are statutorily limited and narrowly defined by the Community Preservation Act, for specific purposes, including to:

• Acquire, create, preserve, and support community housing;
• Acquire, create, and preserve open space;
• Rehabilitate and restore open space that was acquired with community preservation funds;
• Acquire, create, preserve, rehabilitate, and restore land for recreation;
• Acquire, preserve, rehabilitate, and restore historic resources.

Additional information on how CPA funds can be used to support community (i.e. affordable) housing, open space and recreation, and historic resource projects is contained in the Definition sections of the Community Preservation Act.  Applicants are strongly encouraged to review these Definitions for how they relate to their project goals.

About the Community Preservation Committee

The Mayor and City Council appoint a Community Preservation Committee (CPC) to recommend a slate of CPA projects for funding. The CPC approves an annual Community Preservation Plan and recommends an administrative budget, sets priorities, solicits community input, reviews project proposals, and makes recommendations, holding at least one public hearing annually. All CPC meetings are open to the public. Attendance by at least five of the nine members represents a quorum. CPC members will recuse themselves from a vote if they, their colleagues, or family members have a vested interest.

Source: 2026 – Boston CPA Eligibility Determination Packet.docx