Natick To Debate Community Preservation Act Adoption

NATICK, MA — Natick could become the 188th community in Massachusetts to adopt the Community Preservation Act (CPA).

At Spring Town Meeting, members will decide whether to put CPA adoption on the ballot in the fall, according to a local group urging adoption, Invest In Natick's Future.

If adopted, the CPA would give Natick a new revenue source to pay for often-underfunded items like buying open space, refurbishing or building affordable housing and historic preservation.

Funding for CPA projects comes from two main sources: a surcharge on property tax bills, and a trust fund overseen by the state. CPA communities can also borrow against future surcharge revenue.

Since the state enacted the CPA in 2000, 187 cities and towns have adopted it. One of the newest was Framingham, whose voters overwhelmingly voted to adopt in fall 2020. Framingham expects to collect about $1.5 million from the local surcharge by the end of the fiscal year in June. Other nearby communities like Ashland, Wellesley, Wayland and Weston have also adopted CPA.

The Natick Affordable Housing Trust, Historical Commission and Open Space Advisory Committee sponsored the spring Town Meeting article.