CPA Basics
How is CPA adopted?
Adoption is through City Council order and simple majority in the November 2012 citywide election. Both must occur for the Act to take effect in Beverly.
The Beverly City Council unanimously passed an order accepting the provisions of the CPA at their meeting on June 4, 2012, ensuring the Community Preservation Act will be on the ballot on November 6, 2012. You can read the city council order and the ballot language here.
Who controls the money?
We do! The local Community Preservation Fund is a separate, dedicated fund administered through the City Treasurer, with expenditures recommended by a local Community Preservation Committee (CPC). The CPC's membership and terms are outlined in an ordinance enacted through City Council, but the CPC must include members of:
The CPC assesses community needs in the three categories, selects and screens projects, and recommends expenditures to City Council. City Council approves all expenditures.
Will all of the CPA funds be used on one category?
No. Each year the City must allocate 10% of the budget to each of the three categories. The remaining 70% can be allocated based on local priorities as recommended by the CPC, or it can be carried over for future projects.
How much do I have to pay?
The average property value in Beverly is $420,000, which would result in an annual surcharge of $41.38. The majority of property owners would pay less, roughly $26-$39 per year.
Assessed Value After Residential Exemption Yearly Cost to Homeowner
$100,000 $0 $0
$200,000 $100,000 $13
$300,000 $200,000 $26
$400,000 $300,000 $39
$500,000 $400,000 $52
$600,000 $500,000 $65
$700,000 $600,000 $78
$800,000 $700,000 $91
$900,000 $800,000 $104
$1 million $900,000 $117
Do I qualify for the exemptions?
Every residential property owner receives one exemption - the first $100,000 of residential property value is exempt from CPA.
If you meet the low-income or moderate-income senior thresholds shown here, you are exempt from CPA.
In Beverly 1-Person household 2-Person household 4-Person Household
Seniors (60+yrs) $67,550 $77,200 $96,500
Low-income
residents $54,040 $67,760 $77,200
If you are currently exempt from taxes, you are also exempt from CPA.
Can we change CPA once we adopt it?
Yes. Once adopted, the Community Preservation Act must be in force for five years. After that time, the surcharge percentage and exemptions can be amended through the same process by which CPA was adopted (City Order and Ballot Question). The Act can also be revoked, but no municipality in the Commonwealth has ever opted to do so.
Shouldn't the City be doing these projects as part of their routine maintenance of our public properties?
CPA does not fund maintenance. CPA funds can be used to "acquire, create, preserve, and rehabilitate" eligible properties under the categories of open space, historic preservation, community housing and recreation. The definition of "preserve" is to "protect from injury, harm or destruction, not maintenance."
Adoption is through City Council order and simple majority in the November 2012 citywide election. Both must occur for the Act to take effect in Beverly.
The Beverly City Council unanimously passed an order accepting the provisions of the CPA at their meeting on June 4, 2012, ensuring the Community Preservation Act will be on the ballot on November 6, 2012. You can read the city council order and the ballot language here.
Who controls the money?
We do! The local Community Preservation Fund is a separate, dedicated fund administered through the City Treasurer, with expenditures recommended by a local Community Preservation Committee (CPC). The CPC's membership and terms are outlined in an ordinance enacted through City Council, but the CPC must include members of:
- Parks & Recreation Commission
- Conservation Commission
- Historic District Commission
- Planning Board
- One person acting in the interest of community housing
The CPC assesses community needs in the three categories, selects and screens projects, and recommends expenditures to City Council. City Council approves all expenditures.
Will all of the CPA funds be used on one category?
No. Each year the City must allocate 10% of the budget to each of the three categories. The remaining 70% can be allocated based on local priorities as recommended by the CPC, or it can be carried over for future projects.
How much do I have to pay?
The average property value in Beverly is $420,000, which would result in an annual surcharge of $41.38. The majority of property owners would pay less, roughly $26-$39 per year.
Assessed Value After Residential Exemption Yearly Cost to Homeowner
$100,000 $0 $0
$200,000 $100,000 $13
$300,000 $200,000 $26
$400,000 $300,000 $39
$500,000 $400,000 $52
$600,000 $500,000 $65
$700,000 $600,000 $78
$800,000 $700,000 $91
$900,000 $800,000 $104
$1 million $900,000 $117
Do I qualify for the exemptions?
Every residential property owner receives one exemption - the first $100,000 of residential property value is exempt from CPA.
If you meet the low-income or moderate-income senior thresholds shown here, you are exempt from CPA.
In Beverly 1-Person household 2-Person household 4-Person Household
Seniors (60+yrs) $67,550 $77,200 $96,500
Low-income
residents $54,040 $67,760 $77,200
If you are currently exempt from taxes, you are also exempt from CPA.
Can we change CPA once we adopt it?
Yes. Once adopted, the Community Preservation Act must be in force for five years. After that time, the surcharge percentage and exemptions can be amended through the same process by which CPA was adopted (City Order and Ballot Question). The Act can also be revoked, but no municipality in the Commonwealth has ever opted to do so.
Shouldn't the City be doing these projects as part of their routine maintenance of our public properties?
CPA does not fund maintenance. CPA funds can be used to "acquire, create, preserve, and rehabilitate" eligible properties under the categories of open space, historic preservation, community housing and recreation. The definition of "preserve" is to "protect from injury, harm or destruction, not maintenance."