Community Preservation Act (CPA) Information

What is the Community Preservation Act (CPA)?

The Community Preservation Act (CPA) was created by state law (MGL Chapter 44B). It allows cities and towns to adopt a property tax surcharge to help fund projects that preserve the character of the community. Springfield voters adopted the CPA on November 8, 2016 and it went into effect on July 1, 2017.

How is the CPA funded?

The CPA fund is created via a 1.5% surcharge on real estate taxes for residential, commercial, and industrial properties, which will begin to appear on the Fiscal Year 2018 3rd and 4th quarter real estate bills. A statewide Community Preservation Act Trust Fund is also distributed to municipalities and is funded by Registry of Deeds fees.

How is the CPA surcharge calculated?

The CPA in Springfield exempts the first $100,000 of value for residential and commercial properties*. After the exemption is applied, the resulting value is then multiplied by the tax rate and the CPA rate, which is 1.5%. The resulting annual CPA is then divided evenly amongst the four quarterly real estate tax bills for any given fiscal year**. 

* If you don’t know your assessed valuation, you can check it on the Assessor’s Website.
** For Fiscal Year 2018, the CPA surcharge will appear on the 3rd and 4th quarter real estate bills.

 

What types of projects can the CPA fund?

This revenue will be kept in a locally controlled fund that can help with:

  • Acquisition, Creation, and Preservation of Open Space
  • Rehabilitation or Restoration of Open Space acquired through the CPA
  • Acquisition, Creation, Preservation, Rehabilitation, and Restoration of Recreational Land
  • Acquisition, Preservation, Rehabilitation, and Restoration of Historic Resources
  • Acquisition, Creation, Preservation, Support of Community Housing and Rehabilitation or Restoration of Community Housing acquired through the CPA 

Do any exemptions to the surcharge exist?

Yes, households that qualify for low-income, or low or moderate-income housing, as defined by M.G.L. c. 44B, Section 2 are exempt from the CPA surcharge in its entirety.  The low-income exemption applies to property owners under the age of 60 and the moderate income exemption applies to property owners aged 60 years or older. The area wide median income is determined annually by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Click here to review the income limit guidelines for a CPA surcharge exemption

Click here for an Community Preservation Act Exemption application.  

(Note: The deadline for applications for exemptions has been extended due to the current state of emergency. Applications must now be filed with the Assessor's Office on or before June 1, 2020)

 

Who administers the CPA fund?

Implementation and recommending projects to the City Council for funding of the CPA in Springfield is overseen by the City's 9-member Community Preservation Committee. Representatives are appointed from each of the departments below and three neighborhood appointees by the City Council President.

  • LaMar Cook, Neighborhood representative;
  • Gloria DeFillipo, Planning Board representative;
  • Juanita Martinez, Conservation Commission representative;
  • Robert McCarroll, Chair, Springfield Preservation Trust representative;
  • Terry Mitchell, Neighborhood representative;
  • David Finn, Historical Commission representative;
  • Willie Thomas, Housing Authority representative;
  • Terry Rodriguez, Park Commission representative
  • Ralph Slate, Neighborhood representative

The CPC meets monthly. Meetings are open to the public. For the meeting times, locations, and agendas, please check the City Calendar.

 

Schedule and Project Review Process

The SCPC conducts one funding round in the calendar year. The following is a sample schedule. Check back in February for 2021 dates. Note: The CPC cannot predict the time for the City Council approval process.

  • Full Applications due in late Spring
  • Meetings with applicants  - May & June
  • Deliberations - July & August
  • Recommendations to City Council - September

 

CPC Funding Recommendations

2020 Applications for CPC consideration

Greater New Life application

Office of Planning application

Riverfront Club application

Spanish AM War Monument application

Springfield Museums Stained Glass application

Classical High Condos application

Highland Heritage application

Land Trust application

Mcknight CDC Revolving Fund application

Walking Loop Path E. Springfield application

Wayfinders 2020 COVID-19 Emergency Housing application

Bike Park application

Duggan Play Yard application

Forest Park Zoo application

Forest Park Garden Gazebo application

Long Pond application

Mcknight Common Area application

Mcknight Thompson Fountain application

Regreen Phase 2 application

Splash Pad E. Springfield application 

Springfield Museums- Kilroy House application

Building Beauty Project application

Brookings Apartments Project application

Trinity House

 

 

COVID-19 Update

The City of Springfield's Health and Human Services Department is currently monitoring the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and the Mayor has ordered City Hall and all other municipal buildings closed to the public beginning Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Please see updates from the Mayor’s Office of Communication

Meetings are open to the public. The SCPC meets monthly and usually on the first Tuesday of the month. For the meeting times, locations, and agendas, please check the City Calendar.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to the Governor's Executive Order concerning the Open Meeting Law, SCPC will conduct public meetings using remote collaboration technology until further notice. The public is invited to view past and future meetings on the SCPC facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SpringfieldCommunityPreservationCommittee

The CPC will entertain a public speakout after a remote meeting provided you send an email to klee@springfieldcityhall.com at least 24 hours before the meeting takes place (advance notice not necessary for live meetings).

 

Page last updated:  Tuesday, September 22, 2020 09:26 am