COMMUNITY PRESERVATION FUND LEGISLATION SUPPORT DRIVE MARCH 19-31

To all Massachusetts public history organizations, groups, and institutions and their members, volunteers, and staff:

We’ve been talking to Alison Leary of the Community Preservation Coalition. The Community Preservation Fund need bolstering. Almost half of Massachusetts towns have a CPA, and it greatly benefits public history preservation projects, from buildings to archival preservation, that work hard to vitalize our communities. Supporting the bill that’s up right now is a no-brainer. Even if your town hasn’t passed the CPA, since you might in the future. Success Stories

What should you be doing right now?

1. 1. Host a Postcard-and Pizza party to  let your state legislators know how your community feels
   2. To whom shall we write postcards? Contact the members of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, especially your own representatives, asking them to please put their support behind this legislation, and also behind getting it passed in a timely manner. If you have anecdotal or data-based information for them to support this, offer/send it to them.
   3. There’s a bill in front of the Legislature, An Act to Sustain Community Preservation Revenue  It basically assures that enough money is raised (from a fee charge on mortgages) for the Community Preservation Trust Fund to guarantee at least a 50% match to the communities.
   4. Sample text for a postcard:

Please support H. 3662, An Act to Sustain Community Preservation Revenue. The Bill has been reported out favorably by the Joint Committee on Revenue and has been referred to the Joint Committee on Ways & Means.

The CPA has been a powerful tool for local communities to preserve their history and culture, protect and preserve open space, create, preserve and rehabilitate parks and playgrounds and preserve, support and create affordable housing. Nearly half the cities and towns in Massachusetts rely on critical local aide from the Statewide CPA Trust Fund. In order to sustain the CPA and continue the partnership between the Commonwealth and the CPA communities, it is essential that to support an increase in the Trust Fund by including language in the budget to adjust the CPA fees at the State Registries of Deeds.

Download the bill

Community Preservation Coalition news 
Fact Sheet on Bill H.36662

for the Advocacy Committee
Cliff McCarthy
Pleun Bouricius