Bedford’s Community Preservation Ordinances adopt the Massachusetts General Law Ch 44B, Community Preservation Act. Article 2 levies a 3% property tax surcharge, to be set aside for activities outlined in the Community Preservation Act, including open space preservation; and Article 6 establishes a Community Preservation Committee. The Community Preservation Act is a state law designed to encourage open space preservation by authorizing communities to raise funds through a property tax surcharge, as well as offering potential matching state funds.