The following was submitted by Representative Linda Dorcena Forry.
Tonight marks an important moment for the future of the Community Preservation Act, a program launched in 2000 allowing communities across the Commonwealth to reinvest tax dollars into critical local redevelopment projects on historical landmarks, open space and affordable housing. While the program expanded rapidly in the years after its institution, with the number of adopting communities more than tripling between 2001 and 2007, it has recently struggled to attract new municipalities to participate. Residents of one of the few towns currently considering the CPA, Milton, will gather this evening to determine the fate of the program within their community.
“The CPA is exactly the type of tailored, local investment that we should be making,” said Representative Linda Dorcena Forry who represents parts of Milton. “It empowers residents to really take the reins in crafting strategies to strengthen their communities and create economic opportunities.”
Rep. Forry, the House Chair of the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business, has long championed the legislation and ensured a bill to reinvigorate funding for the program was the first reported out of her committee this session. While communities used to receive a 100% matching grant from the state to fuel CPA projects, that number has dwindled to 25% in recent years. This decreased state support for the CPA is considered one of the leading reasons for the recent decline in participating municipalities.
To reinvigorate the program and establish a sustainable funding stream, leading advocates including the Community Preservation Coalition (CPC) and their partners in the legislature have been working hard this session to pass An Act to Sustain Community Preservation. “The CPA is a critical program with unique benefits to cities and town across our state,” said Stuart Saginor, Executive Director of the Community Preservation Coalition. “No one understands this better than Rep. Forry, who has been a leader on the CPA for longer than any other and has continued her diligent support as Chair. That is why we were pleased to nominate her for the ‘Legislator of the Year Award’ from the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Planning Association.” In recognition of Rep. Forry’s efforts in prioritizing the legislation, she received this honor along with her co-chair, Senator Sal DiDomenico in December.
Rep. Forry has promoted the CPA to residents and colleagues in Milton in anticipation of their vote tonight. She both submitted the entire compilation of testimony received by her committee to the town selectmen and discussed the benefits of the program with them at their meeting this past February. Katherine Roth, the Associate Director of the CPC, will be on hand at town meeting this evening to discuss the merits of the program as well.