The Community Preservation Act (CPA) was created by a state law (MGL Chapter 44B) to help cities and towns preserve the character of their community. In 2012, Fall River residents voted to adopt the CPA which allowed a 1.5% surcharge on Property Tax bills to fund affordable housing, open space, and historic preservation projects. 

The Community Preservation Act requires that at least 10% of each year’s Community Preservation revenues be spent or set aside for each of the three Community Preservation categories. The remaining 70% is available for spending on any one or more of the categories as the Committee and Town Meeting see fit. 

Fall River is a member of the Community Preservation Coalition, which maintains a statewide searchable CPA Projects Database.