Boston City Councilor At-Large Michael F. Flaherty has announced “CPA in the City” – a community engagement initiative to raise awareness of the 91 community preservation projects that have been recommended since Boston’s adoption of the Community Preservation Act (CPA) and are either completed or underway. Boston voters adopted the CPA through a ballot initiative in 2016. The revenue collected by the CPA funds affordable housing, historic preservation and open space projects.
The CPA has enabled Boston to allocate significant additional funding for affordable housing development, historic landmark preservation, and recreational open space enhancements since its adoption by Boston voters in 2016. By adopting the CPA, the City created a Community Preservation Fund. The City finances this fund in part by a 1% property tax-based surcharge on residential and business property tax bills, beginning in July 2017. A statewide Community Preservation Trust Fund gives cities and towns that passed the act a “match”. They City uses this revenue to fund projects consistent with CPA guidelines. Through a legislative process consisting of two public hearings, Councilor Flaherty recommended passage of funding for 91 community preservation projects, totaling approximately $42 million over the past year and a half.
“We are going through an era of rapid growth and development, and residents continue to seek resources to stabilize their neighborhoods. The Community Preservation program ensures that residents have a voice in the betterment of their community,” said Councilor Flaherty. “I look forward to hearing how these 91 projects are improving our communities.”
Councilor Flaherty looks to use “CPA in the City” as a way to recognize community preservation efforts on an ongoing basis. The testimony submitted will be shared with the public. To learn more about the Community Preservation program and where projects are taking place, visit https://www.boston.gov/community-preservation. For more information on “CPA in the City”, contact the office of Boston City Councilor At-Large Michael F. Flaherty via phone (617-635-4205) or email ([email protected]).
Councilor Flaherty, the Chair of the Council’s Committee on the Community Preservation Act, wants residents to highlight how projects have improved their neighborhoods. Residents are encouraged to do so by sending in their testimony via writing, pictures, and/or videos through social media, mail or email. Testimony can be sent to [email protected] or on various social media platforms using the hashtag #CPAintheCity. You can tag Councilor Flaherty on twitter by using @mfflaherty, on Instagram by tagging @michaelfflaherty or on Facebook @flahertyfanpage. Testimony also be submitted via mail to Councilor Michael Flaherty at 1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201.