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THE COMMUNITYPRESERVATION ACT IN NORTHAMPTON SUMMARY, 11-3-11HISTORY:

CPA law was enacted by the Commonwealth in 2000 and adopted by 147 out of 351 cities andtowns in the state since then.State Matching Funds come from state-wide Registry of Deeds fees and have averaged a 50%match of local dollars fo r Northampton over the past five years (see attachment).Northampton voted to adopt the CPA with a 3% local property tax surcharge in November 2005,first collected in fiscal year 2007. The first funding round started in January 2008.Exemptions for the surcharge are described in an attachment.

COMMUNITY PRESERVATION PLAN FOR NORTHAMPTON:The complete text of the Plan can be found at www.northamptonma.gov/cpcThe Plan establishes the Community Preservation Committee and its duties, the review criteriafor applications, and the requirement fo r a public, transparent review. process fo r applications.The Plan is reviewed bi-annually in public meetings.

COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE:9 citizen volunteer members, 2 elected and 7 appointed, representing the Historical Commissior:t, theConservation Commission, the Planning Board, the Recreation Commission, the Housing Authority, andone each appointed by the Mayor and the City Council.PROJECT CATEGORIES (see "Allowable Use Table" attached)

Historic Preservation (minimum of 10% of revenue, 16 grants in past five years)Community Housing (minimum of 10% of revenue, 13 grants in past five years)Open Space Preservation (minimum of 10%of revenue, 15 grants in past five years)Recreation (4 grants in past five years)Multiple categories (3 grants in past five years)

FUNDING PROCESS:There are two 4-month rounds each year, including submission of applications with project budgets, sitevisits, meetings with applicants, meetings devoted to public comment, and CPC recommendationspresented to the Mayor who then presents them to the City Council. The City Council votes twice on

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Local CPA Surcharge[-H-1'----------------------

o 3/o surcharge on real estate taxeso First $1 OOK of property value is

exempto Average family pays $79 yro Exemptions for seniors and lowincome households - must file with

assessoro Totals about $850,000 per year

NorthamptonCPA Income Limits, 2011Moderate Low IncomeHousehold Income Limits Limits (owned(owned and and occupiedSize occupied by by non-senior_) seniors]

1 person $48,510 $38,8082 people $55,440 $44,352 I3 people $62,370 $49,8964 people $69,300 $55,4405 people $74,844 $59,8756 people $80,388 $64,3107 people $85,932 $68,7468 people $91,476 $73,181

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State Match[ - ] ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

D First year state matched 100/oo Declined as additional towns adopted CPA and

registry transactions declinedo Currently 32.5/o- about $290,000 in FYl l

Fiscal Year Local Surchar_ge State Match Match 0/o2007 $714,215.00 $714,21 5.00 100/o2008 $738,678.32 $588,231.00 79.63%2009 $767,021.29 $338,552.00 44.14/o I2010 L _ $ 8 2 9 [ 2 1 ~ 7 3 $281,512.00- 33.95/o I---- -- ----- -- - - - -- --- -----

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