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<b>
<font face="Verdana" size="2">1471 Highland Avenue - Town Hall<br>
Needham, MA 02492<br>
Phone - 781-455-7500<br>
Fax - 781-449-4569</font></b><!--mstheme--></font></td>
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<p align="center" style="margin-top: 1px; margin-bottom: 1px"><b>
<font face="Verdana" size="5" color="#0000FF">
Frequently Asked Questions</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin-top: 1px; margin-bottom: 1px"> </p><!--mstheme--></font></td>
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</table><!--mstheme--><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica"><!--mstheme--></font><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="100%" id="AutoNumber2" height="95">
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<p align="center"><font face="Verdana" size="2"><a href="Index.htm">Community Preservation Committee
Home Page</a></font><!--mstheme--></font></td>
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<td width="100%" align="left" valign="top" height="24"><!--mstheme--><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica">
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="left" style="margin-top: 1px; margin-bottom: 1px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"><b>
<a href="#01 What_is_Community_Preservation">What is
Community Preservation?</a></b></font><!--mstheme--></font></td>
<td><!--mstheme--><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica">
<p align="left" style="margin-top: 1px; margin-bottom: 1px">
<b><a href="#05 How_do_I_apply_for_an_Exemption">
<font face="Verdana" size="1">How do I apply for an
Exemption?</font></a></b><!--mstheme--></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><!--mstheme--><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica">
<p align="left" style="margin-top: 1px; margin-bottom: 1px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"><b>
<a href="#02 What_is_the_Community_Preservation_Act">What is
the Community Preservation Act?</a></b></font><!--mstheme--></font></td>
<td><!--mstheme--><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica">
<p align="left" style="margin-top: 1px; margin-bottom: 1px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"><b>
<a href="#06 How_does_a_town_adopt_CPA">How does a town
adopt CPA?</a></b></font><!--mstheme--></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><!--mstheme--><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica">
<p align="left" style="margin-top: 1px; margin-bottom: 1px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"><b>
<a href="#03 Where_do_CPA_Funds_come_from">Where do CPA
Funds come from?</a></b></font><!--mstheme--></font></td>
<td><!--mstheme--><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica">
<p align="left" style="margin-top: 1px; margin-bottom: 1px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"><b>
<a href="#07 Can_the_town_change_the_surcharge_percentage">
Can the town change the surcharge percentage?</a></b></font><!--mstheme--></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><!--mstheme--><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica">
<p align="left" style="margin-top: 1px; margin-bottom: 1px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"><b>
<a href="#04 Are_There_Exemptions_to_CPA">Are There
Exemptions to CPA?</a></b></font><!--mstheme--></font></td>
<td><!--mstheme--><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica">
<p align="left" style="margin-top: 1px; margin-bottom: 1px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"><b>
<a href="#08 How_is_CPA_Administered">How is CPA
Administered?</a></b></font><!--mstheme--></font></td>
</tr>
</table><!--mstheme--><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica">
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"><b>
<a name="01 What_is_Community_Preservation">What is Community
Preservation?</a></b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">Massachusetts General Law
(M.G.L.) Chapter 267 of the Acts of 2000, Section 2, defines community
preservation as �the acquisition, creation and preservation of open
space, the acquisition, creation and preservation of historic structures
and landscapes and the creation and preservation of community housing.�</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"><b> </b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"><b>
<a name="02 What_is_the_Community_Preservation_Act">What is the
Community Preservation Act?</a></b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">The Community Preservation
Act (CPA) enables towns to set up a Community Preservation Fund to be
used for:</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px"> </p>
<!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--><table style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in" type="disc" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
<!--msthemelist--><tr><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="../_themes/copy-of-blends/blebul1a.gif" width="15" height="15" hspace="13" alt="bullet"></td><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica">
<p align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">The acquisition,
creation and preservation of open space; </font><!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr>
<!--msthemelist--><tr><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="../_themes/copy-of-blends/blebul1a.gif" width="15" height="15" hspace="13" alt="bullet"></td><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica">
<p align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">The acquisition,
preservation, rehabilitation and restoration of historic resources;
</font><!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr>
<!--msthemelist--><tr><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="../_themes/copy-of-blends/blebul1a.gif" width="15" height="15" hspace="13" alt="bullet"></td><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica">
<p align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">The acquisition,
creation and preservation of land for recreational use; </font><!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr>
<!--msthemelist--><tr><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="../_themes/copy-of-blends/blebul1a.gif" width="15" height="15" hspace="13" alt="bullet"></td><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica">
<p align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">The creation,
preservation and support of community housing; and </font><!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr>
<!--msthemelist--><tr><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="../_themes/copy-of-blends/blebul1a.gif" width="15" height="15" hspace="13" alt="bullet"></td><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica">
<p align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">The rehabilitation or
restoration of open space, land for recreational use and community
housing that is acquired or created as provided in this section.</font><!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr>
<!--msthemelist--></table><!--mstheme--><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica">
<p align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">CPA funds do not need to
be used in the year they are collected. They can be set aside for future
uses. The statute mandates that at least 10% of the CPA funds be used
for open space, 10% for housing, and 10% for historic purposes. A
maximum of 5% can be used for administering CPA. The remainder of CPA
funds can be used in any percentage for open space, housing, historic,
and recreation purposes.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"><b> </b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"><b>
<a name="03 Where_do_CPA_Funds_come_from">Where do CPA Funds come from?</a></b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">Funding for the Needham
Community Preservation Fund comes from two sources:</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px"> </p>
<!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--><table style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in" type="disc" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
<!--msthemelist--><tr><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="../_themes/copy-of-blends/blebul1a.gif" width="15" height="15" hspace="13" alt="bullet"></td><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica">
<p align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">A surcharge on
property taxes of 2%.</font><!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr>
<!--msthemelist--><tr><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="../_themes/copy-of-blends/blebul1a.gif" width="15" height="15" hspace="13" alt="bullet"></td><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica">
<p align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">Matching funds from
the state according to a formula set forth in M.G.L. Chapter 44B.
Since CPA�s inception, the state has been matching local
contributions at 100% although this percentage may change as more
communities take advantage of the funding source. <i>Matching funds
are disbursed in the Fall for revenues collected in the previous
fiscal year. Needham will receive its first state matching funds in
October 2006</i></font><!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr>
<!--msthemelist--></table><!--mstheme--><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">State funds for CPA are
raised through fees on real estate transactions. Each time a Needham
resident pays recording fees for a home purchase or refinance, they are
contributing to the state�s CPA fund. Prior to adopting CPA, Needham
residents contributed about $850,000 to the fund. Presently, the state
has been disbursing approximately $27 Million annually to cities and
towns that have adopted CPA. There are now more than 100 communities
that have adopted CPA.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"><b>
<a name="04 Are_There_Exemptions_to_CPA">Are There Exemptions to CPA?</a></b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">M.G.L Chapter 44B allows
three exemptions, by local option, from the property tax surcharge.
Needham adopted the following two exemptions:</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 1px 5px" align="justify"> </p>
<!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
<!--msthemelist--><tr><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="../_themes/copy-of-blends/blebul1a.gif" width="15" height="15" hspace="13" alt="bullet"></td><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica">
<p align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">Property owned and
occupied as a domicile by a person who would qualify for low income
housing or low or moderate income senior housing</font><!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
<!--msthemelist--><tr><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="../_themes/copy-of-blends/blebul2a.gif" width="12" height="12" hspace="15" alt="bullet"></td><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica">
<p align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">Low income is
defined as �those persons and families whose annual income is
less than 80 per cent of the area wide median income. The area
wide median income shall be the area wide median income as
determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban
Development.�</font><!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr>
<!--msthemelist--><tr><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="../_themes/copy-of-blends/blebul2a.gif" width="12" height="12" hspace="15" alt="bullet"></td><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica">
<p align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font size="1" face="Verdana" color="#000000">Low or
moderate-income senior housing is defined as �housing for those
persons having reached the age of 60 or over who would qualify
for low or moderate income housing.�</font><!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr>
<!--msthemelist--></table><!--mstheme--><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica">
<!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr>
<!--msthemelist--><tr><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="../_themes/copy-of-blends/blebul1a.gif" width="15" height="15" hspace="13" alt="bullet"></td><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 1px 5px" align="justify">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">$100,000 of the
assessed valuation of Class One, residential parcels.</font><!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr>
<!--msthemelist--></table><!--mstheme--><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 1px 5px" align="justify">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"> </font></p>
<p style="margin: 1px 5px" align="justify">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"> </font></p>
<h1 align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px"><!--mstheme--><font color="#330099">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">
<a name="05 How_do_I_apply_for_an_Exemption">How do I apply for an
Exemption?</a></font><!--mstheme--></font></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">Exemption B is
automatically applied to each residential tax bill. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"> </font></p>
<p style="margin: 1px 5px" align="justify">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">For Exemption A, please
contact the Needham Assessor�s Office at (781) 455-7507. Exemptions are
not abatements, they are not automatic, and they are not public record.
An application process is in place. The qualifying date is July 1st, the
first day of the fiscal year. If an actual tax bill is sent to
taxpayers, applications are due within 90 days of the third quarter tax
bill postmark date. If an estimated bill is sent then applications are
due within 90 days of the Spring bill postmark.</font></p>
<p style="margin: 1px 5px" align="justify">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"><b>
<a name="06 How_does_a_town_adopt_CPA">How does a town adopt CPA?</a></b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">A town adopts CPA by local
option, as Needham did in November 2004. To take effect, both Town
Meeting and referendum approval were required. </font></p>
<p style="margin: 1px 5px" align="justify">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"> </font></p>
<h2 align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px"><!--mstheme--><font color="#330099">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"><b>
<span style="text-decoration: none">
<a name="07 Can_the_town_change_the_surcharge_percentage">Can the town
change the surcharge percentage?</a></span></b></font><!--mstheme--></font></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">Yes, the town can increase
or decrease the surcharge, within the parameters of the law, by a vote
of Town Meeting and approval by the voters.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"><b>
<a name="08 How_is_CPA_Administered">How is CPA Administered?</a></b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify" style="margin: 1px 5px">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana" size="1">The Town is required
to form a Community Preservation Committee (CPC) to evaluate proposals
and make recommendations to Town Meeting for the appropriation of
Community Preservation Funds. There are five (5) statutory members on
the CPC, with appointees from the Conservation Commission, Historical
Commission, Housing Authority, Parks and Recreation Commission, and
Planning Board. In addition, the Needham by-law requires four additional
members, with two appointed by the Board of Selectmen and two appointed
by the Town Moderator. The members serve for 3-year terms, and cannot
serve more than two full consecutive terms. Initially, the terms of
service are staggered, with lengths of 1, 2 or 3 year terms. <i>The
current Committee membership is listed under �<a href="Index.htm#Committee_Members">Committee
Members</a>�.</i> </font><font face="Verdana"><i><font size="1"> </font></i></font></font><font face="Verdana"><i><font size="1">
</font>
</i></font></p>
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