Spring 2023 CPA Election Season: Adoption Efforts, Surcharge Changes, and More

While springtime in Massachusetts often heralds the arrival of both fresh flowers and late-season snowstorms, it also means that the next cycle of CPA elections has begun! Adoption efforts, surcharge changes, and more are all on the up for a vote across various communities in the coming weeks.

On May 2nd, two towns will be voting on CPA adoption - Danvers and Shirley. And while the campaign in Danvers has already begun its public outreach by collecting signatures from registered voters, there have also been some exciting developments from CPA advocates in the town of Shirley. The "Campaign for Shirley CPA" has registered as a ballot campaign committee, and they're working hard to ensure that their neighbors understand the benefits of the CPA program. They have already launched a campaign website and Facebook page, and their members have begun raising funds for yard signs, mailers, and postcards to help spread the word. Additionally, members of the campaign are planning to have an informational table set up outside the local post office on the weekends leading up to the May election.

Two other towns are considering investing even more into their local CPA program through a surcharge increase - and just like CPA adoption, these changes require approval from a ballot question. First, the town of Duxbury will be voting on March 25th to increase their CPA surcharge from 1% to 3%. While Duxbury originally adopted CPA with the full 3% surcharge back in 2001, residents voted to reduce to 1% in 2012 (along with adopting new exemptions). Later this month, voters will now decide whether to return their CPA investment back to its original level. Then in May, the town of Harvard will be voting on an increase from 1.1% to 3%. Harvard is even incorporating a clever idea to offset the cost of a surcharge increase by also adopting the exemptions for low-income homeowners and first $100k of residential & commercial properties.

While these towns are likely the only ones that will be voting on CPA measures in 2023, there are dozens of other cities and towns considering adoption campaigns in 2024. The next year will be a busy time for CPA advocates across the state, so we will continue to provide updates on our Upcoming CPA Elections page.