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The Coalition Testifies at Joint Committee on Revenue Hearing

Posted on: May 9, 2018 - 11:37am

Coalition Testimony at Joint Committee on Revenue HearingApr. 10, 2017: The Joint Committee on Revenue reviewed testimony supporting An Act to Sustain Community Preservation Revenue (H.2615 / S.1504) during their hearing on Monday afternoon. The Committee, chaired by Representative Jay Kaufman and Senator Michael Brady, heard oral testimony from a panel put together by the Coalition and representatives of several partner organizations. Committee members were presented with a binder filled with almost 140 individual letters from CPA advocates from across the state and additional testimony from many statewide organizations.

The Coalition presented a panel that included many members of our Steering Committee. Clarissa Rowe, Chair of the Arlington CPC, opened with an overview of the CPA program and how it has become increasingly popular since changes to the legislation took effect in 2012. Jen Ryan, Director of Policy for the Trustees of Reservations, spoke to the open space and historic preservation benefits of CPA. Aaron Gornstein, President of Preservation of Affordable Housing, highlighted the creative solutions that CPA provides for local affordable housing efforts. The Coalition's Executive Director Stuart Saginor closed the panel by explaining the ongoing decline of the state match and how establishing a permanent solution is vital to the program's continued success.

Additionally, Chief of Housing and Director of Neighborhood Development for Boston, Sheila Dillon, Chelsea City Manager Tom Ambrosino, and Lexington Selectman Michelle Ciccolo talked about the importance of CPA as a form of local aid for cities and towns. Representatives from several statewide organizations also presented testimony in favor of the bill, including Eric Shupin from CHAPA, Joe Kriesberg from MACDC, and Elizabeth Weyant from MAPC.

We would like to thank or legislative sponsors, Senator Cynthia Stone Creem and Representatives Stephen Kulik and Kevin Honan, and their excellent staff for assisting us in our advocacy. Special thanks as well to the 81 legislators who signed a letter urging the committee for another favorable report and to the advocates from 103 different communities for submitting testimony.

We look forward to a favorable recommendation from the Committee in the coming weeks.

Further Resources:

  • Click here for coverage of the hearing by State House News.
  • Click here for a copy of the letter signed by co-sponsors of the bill urging the hearing committee for a favorable report.
  • "An Act to Sustain Community Preservation Revenue" - Full text of the legislation, as filed by Representatives Stephen Kulik & Kevin Honan (H.2615) and Senator Cynthia Stone Creem (S.1504).
  • For more information about the pending legislation including a full list of sponsors, click here.