CPA Adoption Update: Holyoke on the Ballot

Holyoke puts CPA on the BallotJune 22, 2016: After several months of consideration, Holyoke became the seventh community to advance CPA to the ballot this year after their City Council met on June 21st. The City Council voted 11-3 in favor of placing CPA on the November ballot, joining the towns of Rockland, Hull, Norwood, and Danvers, as well as the cities of Boston and Chelsea, in voting on CPA adoption later this year.

In Holyoke, voters will decide whether or not to adopt a 1.5% CPA surcharge for their community, with exemptions for the first $100,000 of residential property value, the first $100,000 of commercial property value, and low income and low and moderate income senior homeowners. With a 1.5% CPA surcharge and the aforementioned exemptions, Holyoke would raise approximately $460,000 in local CPA revenues annually for recreation, historic preservation, affordable housing and open space projects. The annual cost to the average Holyoke homeowner would be about $23.

If Holyoke does adopt CPA, the funds could address a number of local needs including affordable housing, open space, and recreation. CPA funding could also be used towards historic property restorations in Holyoke City Hall, Scott Tower, and the former National Guard Armory. Adopting CPA will also make the city eligible to receive annual distributions of funds from the statewide Community Preservation Trust Fund, monies that are available only to communities that have adopted the Act.

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