Legislature Votes to Include $20 Million for CPA from FY22 State Budget Surplus

The Coalition is thrilled to announce that CPA communities can expect a substantial boost to this year’s CPA Trust Fund distribution! Just hours ago, the House and Senate both voted to approve of the FY23 state budget, which includes language to transfer $20 million from the state’s FY22 budget surplus to the CPA Trust Fund. The Coalition has advocated for surplus funding for CPA each year since 2013, and this is now the seventh year that we have succeeded in this effort. The $20 million is scheduled to be added to the CPA collections from the state’s Registries of Deeds, and this combination of funding will be distributed to communities in November.

Although monthly collections for the CPA Trust Fund have slowed significantly compared to last year, the infusion of $20 million in state budget surplus funds should ensure a robust distribution for CPA communities. In March, the Department of Revenue’s projected that the November Trust Fund distribution would provide a 35% base (Round One) match. Now that an additional $20 million has been approved, the final distribution should be close to last year, likely over 40% of what communities raised at the local level.

What’s Next in the Budget Process?

There are still two procedural steps left for the full $20 million to be confirmed for CPA communities. First, the Governor needs to sign this version of the FY23 state budget - he now has ten days to review it and decide on any amendments or vetoes. Governor Baker has historically supported the transfer of budget surplus funds to the CPA Trust Fund, so we expect this language will remain intact during this process.

The second step in the process is that the State Controller needs to close the books on FY22 and certify that $20 million in surplus funds are still available. State budget surplus funds for the CPA Trust Fund have been included in the state budget every year since 2013, but during several of those years, there was no funding available at the end of the budget process. Thankfully, estimates show that the state is expecting a record-breaking surplus of over $3 billion this year, so we are confident that the full $20 million will be available for CPA communities.

The Coalition will continue to monitor the status of these surplus funds as the year progresses, but this development signals the state’s continued commitment for supporting CPA communities as they work on local community preservation efforts.

We are extremely grateful for the support of Senator Jo Comerford for championing the original Senate budget amendment for CPA, and for the efforts of Senate President Karen Spilka, Speaker of the House Ronald Mariano, Senate Ways & Means Chair Michael Rodrigues, and House Ways & Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz. We also offer our thanks to the other four members of the State Budget Conference Committee, Senators Cindy Friedman & Patrick O'Connor and Representatives Ann-Margaret Ferrante & Todd Smola.

What language was included in the FY23 State Budget for CPA?

SECTION 174. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, prior totransferring the consolidated net surplus in the budgetary funds for fiscal year 2022 to the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund pursuant to section 5C of chapter 29 of the General Laws, the comptroller shall transfer $20,000,000 to the Massachusetts Community Preservation Trust Fund established in section 9 of chapter 44B of the General Laws.