Sunday, August 30, 2020

Community Preservation Trust:

The Department of Revenue is now projecting a 17.7% first round trust fund distribution in November of 2020.
It is important to note, however, that the agency's projection is based solely on revenue that was collected in the CPA Trust Fund as of July 31st, 2020 - it does not take into consideration the additional revenue that will come in between August and November of this year. This effectively means that if the state match distribution occurred today, all communities would receive a base match of 17.7%.
What Could the Final November 15th Match Look Like?
Available reports show that monthly CPA collections from the state's Registries of Deeds have not been significantly impacted by the pandemic. Because of the new CPA revenue legislation that went into effect in January, collections each month have averaged out to be approximately 2.5x higher compared to last year. Assuming the collections hold strong for the rest of the year, the Coalition feels it is likely that the base match for November could fall into the range of 25-30% of what communities raise at the local level.
That being said, CPA communities are advised to use DOR's official projection before making any updates to their FY21 budgets.
FY2021 Community Preservation State Match - Update on State Match
As of July 31, 2020 collections from the Registry of Deeds indicates that the Community Preservation State Trust Fund balance would allow for a 17.7% base state match for FY2021. Now that communities are beginning to submit local surcharge reports (CP-1 form) we will update the state match estimate in September based on those reports and state collections as of the end of August.
We will provide updated guidance on the state match percentage as additional data becomes available.

What is CPA? The Community Preservation Act (CPA) is a smart growth tool that helps communities preserve open space and historic sites, create affordable housing, and develop outdoor recreational facilities. CPA also helps strengthen the state and local economies by expanding housing opportunities and construction jobs for the Commonwealth's workforce, and by supporting the tourism industry through preservation of the Commonwealth’s historic and natural resources.

1 comment:

  1. Stone Bridge
    Scout Hall
    Grange Hall
    Dwelly Farm
    Grange Hall
    Conservation
    Dwelly Farm
    4 Elm St.
    Scout Hall
    Gilman Waite
    Grange Hall
    BES
    Boynton library

    Those are the items listed on our Year end Budget that are being funded by CPC funds. Can anyone show me "housing"?

    How many individual people go the grange hall per year? How many even know where it is?

    Are baseball fields, concession stands, fencing really qualifying under open space/Recreational use?

    MGL Chapter 44B section 2, definitions shows:

    ''Open space'', shall include, but not be limited to, land to protect existing and future well fields, aquifers and recharge areas, watershed land, agricultural land, grasslands, fields, forest land, fresh and salt water marshes and other wetlands, ocean, river, stream, lake and pond frontage, beaches, dunes and other coastal lands, lands to protect scenic vistas, land for wildlife or nature preserve and land for recreational use.

    'Recreational use'', active or passive recreational use including, but not limited to, the use of land for community gardens, trails, and noncommercial youth and adult sports, and the use of land as a park, playground or athletic field. ''Recreational use'' shall not include horse or dog racing or the use of land for a stadium, gymnasium or similar structure.


    Now add in giving priority to a "Regional School District" really starts to sound like a commercial agreement between the town and the school district. Still think it qualifies?


    I feel we have been using CPC as a personal piggy bank for Committees who otherwise wouldn't be funded by Town Meeting.
    To date I personally cannot see much , if any benefit to taxpayers


    How did we use CPC money to winterize a structure that is not historical as I heard mentioned at the last cpc meeting????

    ReplyDelete