Could A Real Estate Transfer Fee Work On Cape Cod?

CAPE COD, MA — Cape Cod's Housing Crisis Working Group is hearing ideas from across the Cape to address the issue.

At a recent meeting of the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates, County Administrator Michael Dutton provided an update on the Housing Crisis Working Group, which was established earlier this year following a County resolution declaring a housing crisis on Cape Cod.

The same resolution requested that the administrator convene a working group to develop policy recommendations to support towns in addressing the region’s growing housing challenges.

Administrator Dutton reported that the group includes municipal planning and housing professionals from Barnstable, Brewster, Chatham, Dennis, Sandwich, Truro and Yarmouth.

“We’ve identified a number of the hurdles that happen during housing development,” Dutton said, noting challenges such as neighborhood opposition, limited available land, restrictive zoning, political uncertainty, insufficient water and sewer infrastructure, and a lack of financial resources.

Among the strategies under discussion are a potential countywide real estate transfer fee.

“The real estate transfer fee is a funding mechanism specifically to address housing needs. We will discuss whether or not that would be a recommendation we give the Board of Regional Commissioners and the Assembly of Delegates and whether it is suitable for Cape Cod,” said Dutton.

While several Cape Cod towns and both islands have explored similar legislation, this marks the first time such a measure is being considered Cape-wide.

"If the county ever got to a point where that could be a reasonable funding option, then the real question becomes how do you spend those funds," Dutton said.

Rather than waiting to issue a comprehensive package, Dutton indicated that the working group would likely roll out its proposals incrementally.

“As we get ideas that the group thinks are workable, those will come to you,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any reason to wait to give you a laundry list of things we think the County should do. I think we will pass them along as they get fleshed out.”

Delegates offered suggestions for the working group to consider.

Mashpee Delegate Michaela Wyman Columbo encouraged the inclusion of an environmental voice.

“I’m wondering if you would consider bringing an environmental person to the table — not to stop the process, but to help guide the process.”

Orleans Delegate Jon Fuller emphasized the importance of addressing attainable housing as well as affordable housing.

“Your firefighters, your town employees, have difficulty in finding homes in Orleans because they’re at too high a level for affordable but they don’t make enough to buy anything.”

The Assembly anticipates reviewing the working group’s recommendations as they are presented in the coming weeks and months.