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Select Board debates possible Massachusetts home‑rule transfer tax petition; members worry about earmarking and senior exemptions
Summary
Petitioners asked Brookline to support a state home‑rule petition authorizing local real‑estate transfer taxes dedicated to affordable housing. Board members praised potential revenue but raised concerns about restricting proceeds to a single use and about protecting seniors who rely on sale proceeds.
A petition before the Select Board on April 1 would ask the state legislature to permit Brookline to adopt a local real‑estate transfer tax and direct revenue to the town’s Affordable Housing Trust. Petition sponsors said even modest transfer fees could raise millions for deed‑restricted housing.
Supporters described the mechanism as one way to generate recurring revenue for affordable housing without an immediate tax increase on wage earners. One sponsor estimated the first‑year yield could be several million dollars depending on the rate chosen and local…
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