Preservationists, farmers and others across Westport got good news last week when Governor Charlie Baker signed off on $20 million in state budget surplus funds for the CPA Trust Fund, following months of uncertainty over funding.

The fund, which provides state money each year to member communities in the Community Preservation Coalition, help make local preservation, land acquisition, affordable housing and other projects happen.

Funding for the trust fund faced questions this year, after Governor Baker's veto of language pertaining to another state fund months ago. But "throughout the legislative session, the coalition worked with key legislators ... to ensure that they understood how vital these supplemental budget funds were for CPA cities and towns as they work on local community preservation initiatives," the CPC wrote. "We are extremely grateful for the legislature's support."

Though it's not yet known how much Westport will receive this coming year, Westport has received nearly $1.12 million in CPA funds over the past decade and matches state dollars with a small local budget surcharge.

"It's a real bonus for us," said Betty Slade, chairwoman of Westport's Community Preservation Committee, which oversees the funds here. "It gives us the opportunity to do more projects in certain areas like open space, recreation, the preservation of historic buildings, farm preservation and affordable housing."

Among the committee's roles is to take applications for prospective projects, study them and present their recommendations to voters at the annual Town Meeting. At June's meeting, the committee recommended, and voters approved, funding for a conservation restriction for Berry Hill Farm, dugouts and fencing for the WYAA, community housing initiatives by the Affordable Housing Trust, and the rehabilitation of the Westport Historic Society's Bell Schoolhouse at the head of the river.

Slade said that the town is not required to use all the money allocated each year, and retains reserve funding, "so if a big project comes along we will have the reserves to handle that."

Committee members started hearing applications for future funding last week, and will have another online virtual hearing on Thursday, Dec. 15, starting at 6:30 p.m. To find a link, click here.