Governor's Budget additional CPA funding proposed

January 28, 2016

Dear Jason:

Each year, the first step in the state's annual budget process is the release of the Governor's proposed budget in late January. In the past, funding for the CPA Trust Fund has never been a part of the Governor's budget, but rather was inserted later in the budget process.

But the Baker Administration has pledged to make local aid to municipalities a priority, and when the Governor's FY17 budget was released this week it contained arecommendation to transfer $10 million in state budget surplus funds to the CPA Trust Fund. This is a significant step, and a clear signal that the Baker Administration values the outstanding work being done in CPA communities across the state. The House will release their budget proposal in April, and we are hopeful that the CPA funding will also be included there.

This is not the first sign that the Baker Administration recognizes the value of the Community Preservation Act. The CPA 15th Anniversary Celebration last October featured a keynote address by Governor Baker (click here to view a video of that speech). At the event, Governor Baker talked about the legacy of his former boss, Governor Paul Cellucci, who signed CPA into law.

We are grateful to Governor Baker, the Executive Office of Administration and Finance, and the entire Baker Administration for their support of the Community Preservation Act.

We would encourage all 160 CPA communities to express their thanks to the Governor by one of the following methods:

Call the Governor's Office: 617.725.4005

Email Governor Baker: See form at the bottom of this page

on the Governor's website.

Write Governor Baker:

Massachusetts State House

Office of the Governor

Room 280

Boston, MA 02133

Here's the exact wording on CPA that was contained in the FY17 budget proposal:

SECTION 27. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, prior to transferring the consolidated net surplus in the budgetary funds to the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund under section 5C of chapter 29 of the General Laws, the comptroller shall dispose of the consolidated net surplus in the budgetary funds for fiscal year 2016 as follows: (i) transfer 1/2 of the surplus, not to exceed $10,000,000, to the Massachusetts Community Preservation Trust Fund established in section 9 of chapter 44B of the General Laws; and (ii) transfer 1/2 of the surplus, not to exceed $10,000,000, to the Massachusetts Life Sciences Investment Fund established in section 6 of chapter 23I of the General Laws.

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