The Community Preservation Act (the CPA or the Act) was adopted by Scituate voters in 2002. Under the Act, a Community Preservation Committee (the Committee or CPC) has been established to make recommendations for the use of the CPA funds. The nine-member Committee is appointed by the Selectmen, and is made up of four at-large members and five Town board members (Planning Board, Conservation Commission, Housing Authority, Recreation Committee and Historical Commission).

Since 2002, CPC has recommended, and Town Meeting has approved, funding for many noteworthy projects: restoration of historic treasures like Lawson Tower, Cudworth House, and Stockbridge Mill; purchase of increasingly threatened open space – roughly 120 acres to date containing much wildlife and scenic trails; construction of recreational facilities at Hatherly and Cushing Schools, along with Community Basketball courts at the High School. FY-2011’s CPC recommended projects include purchase of over 50 acres of high quality open space, acquisition of the historic Bates House, preservation of historic records, and Harborwalk.

As adopted by the voters, a 3% CPA surcharge is assessed on all property tax bills with certain exemptions. CPA funds collected under the surcharge must be expended for allowed purposes under the Act. Generally the allowed uses are the acquisition, preservation, restoration or creation of open space, historical purposes, land for recreational use and the creation and support of community housing.

The Town has received significant matching funds from the State. As a community adopting the maximum three percent (3%) surcharge, the Town of Scituate receives the maximum amount that can be recovered from the State in the form of matching funds. The Town of Scituate has received more than $4.73 million dollars in matching funds from the State to date. Towns adopting surcharge less than 3% do not participate in all rounds of state matching funds after the initial round. Towns adopting the maximum 3% surcharge qualify for participation in all additional rounds, resulting in the Town of Scituate receiving more matching funds from the State. Towns adopting less than the 3% surcharge will likely not receive funding equal to the level of the matching funds provided to the Town of Scituate in the future.

Based upon its receipt and review of applications received for project funding utilizing CPA funds, the Committee must make recommendations for expenditure of CPA funds to Town Meeting for approval. The Committee sponsors all CPA-funded Town Meeting articles. Successful CPA initiatives require a positive recommendation from the Committee as well as a favorable vote of Town Meeting.

The Committee wishes to thank the citizens of the Town of Scituate for their support of the Act and the CPC.