For the first time in the seven-year history of the CPA, it is anticipated that the statewide CPA Trust Fund will have insufficient revenue to issue a 100% match to CPA communities when CPA state matching funds are distributed this October 15th, 2008. This week, DOR issued a projection for the percentage match CPA communities will receive in the October payment, as well as information on the funding formula.

The Community Preservation Coalition recently assisted in the creation of a guidebook on how cities and towns can use CPA funds to support local housing efforts. Citizens Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) and the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) led the group effort to create this important CPA resource. To download the guidebook click here (please note: this is a large file - 3.3mb). To obtain a hardcopy, contact Connie Kruger at ckruger@mhp.net or 617-330-9944 x-281.

Further training on housing options for your community will be offered in June at the Massachusetts Housing Institute sponsored by CHAPA, MHP and others. Click here for more information.

At least two dozen church projects have been funded with CPA funds, including projects in Bridgewater, Dennis, Easton, Nahant, Nantucket, and North Andover. Churches played an integral role in the history of Massachusetts, and are also often local landmarks. Many houses of worship continue to serve broad community needs, providing space for public uses and activities such as daycare centers, musical events, girl and boy scout meetings, adult education classes, and the like. CPA funds can be a critical factor in successfully preserving and restoring these important historic community assets, but the Coalition is often asked about whether the use of public CPA funds for private religious institutions is allowable.

Do you suspect that many eligible taxpayers are not aware of your community's low/moderate-income CPA surcharge exemptions? Over 90 communities adopted CPA with the low/moderate income surcharge exemption, which means that properties that are owned and occupied by low-income persons and low/moderate-income seniors are not subject to the CPA surcharge. However, because taxpayers need to submit an application each year to apply for the exemption, some communities have taken extra steps to educate taxpayers on eligibility and the application procedures.

The CPA project featured in this issue is an historic preservation project in the Town of Hopkinton. The photograph at the top of this newsletter (and to the right) shows the Old Train Depot, which was built in 1872. The CPC chair (John Coolidge) and vice chair (Roger Mezitt) are pictured in the photograph at the top of the newsletter. The train depot is currently being restored for use as a tourist information center and ice-skating shelter. The project is funded through a combination of CPA funds and extensive donations of labor.