Framingham Says Yes To Community Preservation Act

FRAMINGHAM, MA — The Community Preservation Act was before voters in Framingham for the second time in 20 years on Tuesday, and this time voters said yes.

Voters approved Question 3 with 19,078 votes in favor, 11,414 against. The CPA adoption measure had strong support across the city ahead of Election Day, including the unanimous backing of the Framingham City Council. Framingham last attempted to adopt the CPA in 2001, one year after the law passed in the Legislature.

"We are confident that adopting CPA will make Framingham a better place to live and create significant benefits for all residents and in all parts of our city over the years to come," members of the Framingham Community Preservation Now group said in a statement Wednesday morning.

Adopting the CPA means most residential and commercial property owners will pay a 1 percent surcharge on their property tax bill beginning on July 1. Proponents expect the CPA to collect about $1.5 million the first year, which can be used to pay for things like buying open space, refurbishing or building affordable housing and historic preservation projects.

READ: What The CPA Would Look Like In Framingham

Now that voters have approved the CPA, the City Council will begin work on writing an ordinance to create an oversight committee. The first CPA project proposals likely won't be seen until spring 2022.

But there was also vocal opposition to the CPA in Framingham. Resident Bill Lynch led an informal campaign against the ballot measure, arguing that it's the wrong time to charge property owners more.

With the CPA passage, Lynch said he would stay involved in the process as it unfolds.

"I want to thank everyone for their help and patience during the past couple months. Although question 3 didn't go the way I had hoped, I was happy to be a part of our democracy," he told Patch. "I am confident that the Framingham Community will stay involved with the CPA group, and become active in the projects that it deems desirable for the community. As with any young government, we have some evolving to do as a group."

The CPA ballot question was one of only two local races in Framingham. Voters in precinct 3 helped decide the race between incumbent state Rep. Carmine Gentile and Republican Ingrid Centurion, and Gentile was ahead as of Tuesday night. See more Nov. 3 election results.