What is the CPA? 

The Community Preservation Act or CPA is a state law passed in 2000 which provides a source of targeted funding for towns to use on projects such as:

  • Recreational facilities
  • historic building preservation
  • Local affordable housing development
  • Open space protection

In regular town budgets, these kinds  of projects seldom get the funding they need because of other important priorities like schools and roads. 

Possible CPA projects suggested by Colrainers:

  • Ballfield improvements – batting cage, playground, restrooms
  • A swimming area (!) with legal parking
  • Improvements to the Library & History of Colrain Museum
  • Interest buydown, down-payment assistance; other housing help
  • Trails and signs to historic sites in town; new school playground equipment
  • Repair of cemetery headstones, and more-

Here are a few examples of what the CPA surcharge would be for different real estate valuations:

$200,000      $59           $350,000      $147

 $250,000      $88           $400,000      $177

 $300,000      $118         $450,000      $206

See the resources under the ‘About’ menu for more information or click on ‘CPA Calculators’ to find our what your surchage would be.