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From: Chris Saccardi, Community Preservation Coalition
Date: 1/29/2003
Time: 7:49:51 AM
Remote Name: 208.25.215.2
Actually because a Trust Fund is not protected by the State’s Constitution, the Legislature may divert the funds in it to non-CPA uses. While this is technically and legally the case, it is unlikely that such an effort would be successful. Because 58 communities have passed the CPA, there is a powerful and vocal constituency that will work hard to protect the CPA funds. Almost every Senate district and many House districts now include a CPA community. The Coalition will be watching very closely over the coming months to keep track of any hostile CPA bills that are filed. If a credible threat to the state CPA funds does materialize (and none has to date, despite the many rumors to the contrary), we will look to the 58 CPA communities to help us persuade the legislators behind it that they risk alienating a powerful and broad constituency. In the meantime, it would be helpful for CPA communities to contact their legislators to let them know that preserving the state Trust Fund should be a priority for them. In the coming months, they will be hearing from many competing interests, and those that are most vocal stand a better chance of being heard. Please feel free to contact us with any questions about the current legislative situation or the status of the CPA Trust Fund. Chris Saccardi Community Preservation Coalition 617-367-8998