Framingham Council To Vote To Support CPA Ballot Question

FRAMINGHAM, MA — A bid to adopt the Community Preservation Act in Framingham might get a big endorsement on Tuesday.

The Framingham City Council is set to vote on a resolution supporting the CPA adoption. The resolution asks voters to choose "yes" on ballot question No. 3 while voting before and during the November election.

"[H]aving found, through a thorough and balanced study, that the benefits of adopting the Community Preservation Act (“CPA”) would be significant, the Framingham residents making up the 11-member CPA Study Group, strongly recommended to the Framingham City Council that the question be placed to voters on the official City ballot of the November 3, 2020 election," the proposed resolution reads.

Almost one year ago, the Council voted to establish a committee to study CPA adoption. That committee earlier this year recommended the city adopt the act by ballot measure.

The Community Preservation Act became law in Massachusetts in September 2000. Since then, about 177 cities and towns in Massachusetts have adopted it, including Wayland, Sudbury and Ashland.

CPA adoption allows communities to levy a property tax surcharge, which can be used to buy money to preserve as open space, build affordable housing and renovate historic properties. CPA communities also get access to a Community Preservation Trust Fund to pay for preservation projects.

If Framingham adopts the CPA, the city would enact a 1 percent property tax surcharge to generate about $1.5 million each year. Some property owners, like seniors, could get an exemption from the charge. The first $100,000 of a property value would also be exempt.

The City Council will vote on the pro-CPA resolution at Tuesday night's meeting.