Natick Voters OK CPA By Wide Margin: Preliminary Results

NATICK, MA — Natick voters have said OK to adopting the Community Preservation Act (CPA).

Natick's CPA measure, which will add a 1 percent surcharge on property tax bills to fund a host of community projects, was ahead 9,756 to 5,674 in preliminary results released by the town clerk. That's a margin of 63 percent "yes" to 37 percent "no."

Natick was one of six communities with CPA adoption on ballot in 2022 along with Worcester, Burlington, Boylston, Shelburne and Westborough. Worcester also approved a CPA measure, but Burlington voters rejected it.

Many communities around Natick have already adopted CPA, including Framingham, Wellesley, Wayland, Weston, Needham and Ashland.

Local funds from the CPA, plus matching funds from the state, will be used for funding items like building and maintaining affordable housing, preserving open space and historic preservation projects.

The new surcharge won't go into effect until July 1. In the coming months, Natick will form a CPA committee to oversee funds and decide how the money will be spent. It typically takes about a year after the surcharge goes into effect before the CPA begins to fund local projects.