The Community Preservation Act in Kingston

Open Space Historic Preservation Affordable Housing Allows communities to establish a dedicated fund for: The Community Preservation Act

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Basics of the Act Local adoption needed Establishes up to a 3% surcharge on local property taxes Requires 10% of monies to be spent on each of the 3 categories Allows flexibility for the remaining 70% in each of the 3 categories Establishes a Community Preservation Committee Includes matching funds!

Exemptions to the CPA First $100,000 of property value – exempts the first $100,000 of residential property value from the surcharge. Low-moderate income – exempts any household that earns less than 80% of area median and any senior (60+) who earns up to 100% of the median.

Maximum Incomes for Exemption One person in household Two people in household Four people in household Seniors (residents over 60) $57,820$66,080 Low- income residents $46,256$52,864$66,080

What does that mean for the taxpayer? Median Assessed Home Value $335,000 * With $100,000 exemption $100,000 Net House Value Surcharged $235,000 Municipal Tax Rate (per $1000) $ _______ Amount Subject to Surcharge $2573 CPA Surcharge Rate 2% _______ Amount paid toward CPA Fund $51 Based on this scenario, $51 would be paid into the Community Preservation Trust Fund annually

Kingston CPA Revenue and Surcharge Scenarios SurchargeCostAmount Raised With First $100,000 Exemption 1.0% $ 26 $ 121, % $ 51 $ 243, % $ 77 $ 365,269 Without First $100,000 Exemption 1.0% $ 37 $ 163, % $ 73 $ 326, % $ 110 $ 489,508

State Matching Funds Matching funds come from State CPA Trust Fund Trust Fund is funded by fees at Registry of Deeds Every town pays these fees, even if don’t adopt the CPA Match is paid every October to match local revenue This October, $31.4 million will be paid out. This will leave more than $100 million in the fund. 100% match will last at least another 4-7 years.

Your Neighbors’ State Match Cohasset $706,896 Duxbury $2.7 million Hingham $1.4 million Marshfield$1.9 million Norwell $1.05 million Plymouth $1.03 million Scituate $2.1 million Wareham$693,682

Amending or Repealing the CPA The CPA must remain in place for at least five years. After five years the Act can be repealed at any time using the same procedures available for passage of the Act. Amendments to the surcharge percentage or the authorized exemptions can be made at any time using the same procedures available for passage of the Act.

Potential Uses of CPA Funds

Open Space Community Preservation funds may be used to: 1. Purchase land 2. Purchase easements or restrictions on land 3. Protect drinking water 4. Protect nature preserves 5. Restore polluted land to its natural state 6. Protect farms and farmland - APR

Recreation Also, land can be purchased for : 1. Active and passive recreation 2. Community gardens, 3. Trails, 4. Non-commercial sports 5. Parks, playgrounds or athletic fields.

CPA Housing For families and individuals earning up to 100% of area median: – $82,600,000 for a family of four – $66,080 for a couple – $57,820 for 1 person CPA Housing is different than 40B: –Subject to local zoning –Approved locally –Permanently affordable Units count under 40B so long as inhabitants earn less than 80% of median.

Historic Preservation Community Preservation funds may be used for acquisition, preservation, rehabilitation or restoration of a building(s) or real property that: has been determined by the local historic preservation commission to be significant in the history, archeology, architecture or culture of a city or town; or is listed or eligible for listing on the state register of historic places

Historic Preservation Restoration of historic municipal properties Adaptive reuse Environmental mitigation Grants to private non-profit groups, or individuals with a preservation easement

Community Preservation Committee Membership: (one from each) –Conservation Commission –Historic Commission –Planning Board –Board of Park Commissioners –Housing Authority –Up to 4 additional members

CPA Milestones 65 Adopting Communities 10 Communities voting in 2004 More than $120 million appropriated so far More than 600 units of housing created More than 4,000 acres of open space protected More than 160 historic sites preserved

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