FY26 CPA Process
The FY2026 Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding cycle underway. CPA funds can be used for affordable housing, open space, and historic preservation projects.
The FY26 cycle timeline:
- CPA Committee Organizing Meeting – June 4, 2025
- Deadline for Letters of Interest from community organizations – July 11, 2025
- Public Hearing on FY26 projects – July 28, 2025
- Public Hearing on Allocation of Funding between Affordable Housing, Open Space, and Historic Preservation – August 20, 2025
- CPA Committee Vote Meeting – September 2025 (TBD)
View more information on the letter of interest here.
CPA Background
The Community Preservation Act (CPA) was created by state law (G.L. c. 44B) to help cities and towns preserve the character of their community. In 2001, Cambridge residents voted to adopt the CPA locally, which allowed the City to implement a 3% surcharge on Property Tax bills to fund eligible projects.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts provides "matching" funds in addition to those raised locally by the surcharge. The percentage of the state match varies from year to year, depending on two factors: the amount of fees paid at Registries of Deeds throughout the state, and the number of communities that have adopted the CPA locally (thereby receiving a share of the state match).
Each year, the City is required to spend at least 10% of its annual CPA revenues on each category - open space, historic preservation and community housing. The remaining percentage can be used towards any of the three funding categories.
Through FY25, the City has appropriated/reserved a total of $301.7 million for CPA projects, including $241.5 million for affordable housing initiatives. To date, the City has allocated $69.7 million in state matching funds, $189.5 million from local surcharges, and $45.5 million from the CPA Fund Balance.