House Rejects Governor’s Raid of the CPA

Representative Eldridge Protects Community Preservation Act

BOSTON – State Representative James Eldridge (D-Acton) announced today that the House budget will not include the Governor’s recommended appropriation of $10 million from the state Community Preservation Act (CPA) fund to pay for his Smart Growth proposals.  Eldridge led the effort in the House to oppose any weakening of the CPA.  Over sixty legislators signed Representative Eldridge’s letter to the House Ways and Means Chairman expressing strong support for keeping the law in intact.  Governor Mitt Romney’s original FY06 budget proposal, H 1, included a $10 million dollar raid on the CPA.
 
In the 37th Middlesex District, both Acton and Harvard have passed the CPA, which allows communities through local option to create a surcharge on their local taxes of up to 3%, which the state matches and puts toward the Community Preservation Trust.  These local and state funds may be used for affordable housing, open space and recreation, and historic preservation.

“I commend Chairman Robert DeLeo and the House Ways and Means Committee for wisely rejecting Governor Romney’s raid on the CPA, which reflects the strong support that the Community Preservation Act has amongst legislators and communities across the Commonwealth” commented Eldridge.  “This rejection of the raid on the CPA proves to those towns considering buying in to the Community Preservation Trust that the state will keep up its end of the bargain.”  Eldridge also cited the efforts of Rep. Cory Atkins (D-Concord), who signed the letter to DeLeo (D-Winthrop) and provided key support on the issue.

The House budget debates will continue through the end of the week, and then the budget will move to the Senate for its consideration.  State Senator Pam Resor (D-Acton) has led the effort on the Senate side to protect the CPA, which Representative Eldridge is hoping will also support the Community Preservation Act.