Frequently Asked Questions

The CPA specifies that at least 10% of the funds each year must be allocated for each of the following: open space, recreation, historic resources, and affordable housing. Up to 5% may be used for administering the funds. The balance may be appropriated for any of the three purposes, including the recreational use of open space. There are some restrictions on how funds can be used. Tisbury has had between $500,000 and $1,000,000 available to appropriate each year since 2006.

Tisbury has appropriated $14,494,021.00 towards eligible CPA projects over the past seventeen years, FY 2006 – FY 2024. A list of completed projects is available on this website under CPC Project History.

Updated 11/25

The Community Preservation Act (CPA) enables Massachusetts communities to levy a surcharge on property tax bills to raise funds to expand their open space, historic, recreational, and affordable housing assets. These funds are supplemented by a State match that is raised by a filing fee at the State Registry of Deeds and has ranged from 20% to 100% of the amount raised by the Town of Tisbury. Tisbury voters approved our town’s participation at the Town Meeting in April 2005, and the subsequent Town election. The average annual CPA surcharge to Tisbury residents averages $188. A nine-member Community Preservation Committee (CPC) helps develop and administer projects funded with CPA monies. It encourages participation by interested community members. All six island towns have adopted the CPA for their communities.

The town voters. The CPC solicits requests for projects each fall. The CPC committee reviews all requests and recommends projects for the annual town meeting vote. Every project must be specifically approved at a Town Meeting. The voters must first vote on the allocation of the funds to the specified accounts, and later approve actual expenditures from these reserve accounts. 

CPA Financial Impact on State