VOTE “YES” ON QUESTION 5!

The Community Preservation Act (CPA)

enables cities and towns in Massachusetts to create a dedicated fund for parks, outdoor recreation, historic preservation, and housing for local families while receiving matching state funds for those purposes.

CPA became law in Massachusetts in 2000 and has been adopted by 155 communities, including Fall River, Dartmouth, and Acushnet.

In June, City Council voted unanimously to allow CPA on the ballot this November. Mayor Jon Mitchell gave his strong support by sending the measure to the ballot.

You’ll find Question 5: The Community Preservation Act, on the back of your ballot, Tuesday, November 4th.

After adopting CPA, New Bedford will form a local Community Preservation Committee with up to nine New Bedford citizens, who will review and select projects. The City Council will have final approval of all funding in a public process.

Under CPA, 10% of the funds must be spent on historic preservation, 10% on open space and recreation, and 10% on community housing. The remaining 70% can be used for any of these purposes.

CPA funds can be used on projects anywhere in the city.
That means everybody benefits!

CPA creates a reliable source of funding for projects like parks, ballfields, and preservation that are often vulnerable to budget cuts.
Projects using CPA funds create construction jobs and new investments in our community. These projects can eliminate blight, help maintain and grow our property values, and improve our neighborhoods for our children and grandchildren.
By passing CPA, New Bedford will take advantage of significant state funding — an immediate return that can grow over time.
CPA funds offer an edge for other grants, bringing in millions more from state, federal, and private sources.

THE DOLLARS AND SENSE OF CPA

$470 million
The amount distributed from the State’s CPA Trust Fund to communities like Acushnet, Cambridge, Fall River, and Sommerville.

The amount of money New Bedford has received.

$1.15 million
The amount of money New Bedford would have generated in 2013 through CPA.

First $100,000 of assessed property value for all residential homeowners

First $100,000 of assessed property value for all commercial homeowners

Low-income property owners

Low- and moderate-income seniors

Anyone who rents

The average New Bedford
homeowner would pay only

or $4.50 per
quarterly tax bill.

With the state match, this would raise a total of $1.1 million per year for projects to improve New Bedford’s parks and neighborhoods. The average business owner would pay $5 per month or $15 on a quarterly tax bill.

VOTE YES!

We need your support to pass the
Community Preservation Act for New Bedford.
Vote YES on Question 5
on the back of your ballot on
November 4, 2014!

LIKE CPA

DONATE

Supporting Organizations
Thank you to the many organizations who support the Community Preservation Act for New Bedford!

AHA! New Bedford
Buttonwood Zoological Society
Buzzards Bay Coalition
Cape Verdean Association
Cape Verdean Recognition Committee
Community Action for Better Housing
Community Economic Development Center
Friends of Buttonwood Park
Friends of Clasky Common
Greater New Bedford Industrial Foundation
Inter-Church Council of Greater New Bedford
Martha Briggs Educational Club
NB Beautiful
Neighborhoods United

NeighborWorks – Southern Mass
New Bedford Art Museum/ArtWorks!
New Bedford Economic Development Council
New Bedford Historical Society
New Bedford Port Society
New Bedford Preservation Society
Operation Clean Sweep
ORPH, Inc.
Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum
Schooner Ernestina
The Trustees of Reservations
The Trust for Public Land
Waterfront Historic Area LeaguE (WHALE)
Your Theatre, Inc.
YWCA

With the state match, this would raise a total of $1.1 million per year for projects to improve New Bedford’s parks and neighborhoods.
The average business owner would pay $5 per month or $15 on a quarterly tax bill.

“Voters Will Decide Fate of Preservation”
WBSM (10/9/14)

“Historical Society meeting will focus on CPA”
New Bedford Standard-Times (10/8/14)

“Your View: Three reasons to support the Community Preservation Act”
New Bedford Standard-Times (10/6/14)

“Letter: Cape Verdean Association of NB supports Community Preservation Act”
New Bedford Standard-Times (10/6/14)

“Letter: Community preservation addresses history, present and future”
New Bedford Standard-Times (10/6/14)

“Our View: Community Preservation Act is good government”
New Bedford Standard-Times (10/5/14)

“CPA campaign kicks off in New Bedford”
New Bedford Standard-Times (9/11/14)