By Sandra Dahl Ronan

We Are Already Contributing

We are surrounded by towns that have passed The Community Preservation Act: Rockport, Manchester, Hamilton, and Essex. They (not us) are benefiting from our contributions. This hardly seems fair to Gloucester citizens, especially at times like this.

The Community Preservation Act (CPA) became Massachusetts law in 2000. It allows Massachusetts cities and towns the opportunity to preserve historic buildings and landscapes, help residents gain reasonably priced homes, and protect open space. It also allows funding for the improvement or creation of recreational areas including city parks and ball fields.

Most importantly, participation in the CPA allows a community to qualify for guaranteed matching funds from a dedicated state CPA trust fund. This trust fund is fed by fees every citizen pays for any real estate transaction they may make. Presently at least 120 Massachusetts communities participating in CPA are taking advantage of a 100% match. Participating communities also find themselves well positioned to qualify for a wide variety of other grants and matching funds. Thus an investment of every dollar could result in four plus dollars becoming available for specific local needs.

CPA funds can be a partial solution for some of Gloucester’s economic needs. These monies can be used for high priority projects the city needs to fund anyway or qualifying projects otherwise funded by the operating budget, or lower priority projects which, while desirable, have little chance of being implemented in the current fiscal climate. Some examples include: City Hall restoration, a historic preservation project; the enhancement of public access in the inner and outer harbors by purchasing special parcels when available, restoration of Newell Stadium Field (these two projects fall under the open space and recreation category); and money for the new Housing Trust Fund to finance worthy projects such as providing money to homeowners to develop accessory apartments in their homes for rental income and to help family members have affordable housing.

In a process that is totally controlled locally with a public, city-wide vote, Gloucester can choose to adopt CPA. Once approved, CPA is again controlled locally by a Community Preservation Committee. This group will make regular recommendations to City Council on how best to spend CPA funds.

There are rules as to how CPA funds are to be spent. A minimum of 10% of the funds must be invested in each of the three core community concerns. But then the remaining 70% can be allocated in any combination of the allowed uses including the improvement of city fields or parks. This flexibility is one of the major strengths in this Act.

What does CPA cost Gloucester residents? Once passed, residents would pay a small annual surcharge to their real estate taxes. However, low income residents and low to moderate income seniors would be exempt. Generally the first $100,000 of a home’s value is also exempt from the surcharge. And of course renters are exempt. Even though many would benefit from the exemptions, everyone would benefit from the funds raised by CPA.

The surcharge could be from .5% up to 3%. If Gloucester voted in a 1% surcharge, that could mean the cost for the average homeowner would be a little over $2.00 a month. This could raise locally over $300,000; with a match of 100% that would mean about $600,000, bringing our own money back home. This seems like a reasonable and positive investment in this place we call home. Furthermore, if people are not happy with CPA they can repeal the Act in 5 years.

The Gloucester Community Preservation Act Alliance thinks CPA is a current expression of what the WPA mural in City Hall so beautifully depicts:

Build not for today alone,
But for tomorrow as well.

After a lot of research we continue to feel that CPA is a great deal for Gloucester and hope you will consider voting for it in November.

The above article appeared as a "My View" column in a recent issue of the Gloucester Daily Times