Cambridge Council Backs State Transfer Fee Bill, Orders Housing Voucher Study

CAMBRIDGE — February 26, 2024 — Cambridge City Council voted 6-2 to support House 4138, the Affordable Homes Act, urging state legislators to keep a local option real estate transfer fee in the bill, while unanimously directing staff to assess the feasibility of a city-funded housing voucher program. Councilor Toner and Councilor Pickett cast the dissenting votes on the transfer fee measure, with Toner saying he supports other parts of the bill but opposes the fee, and Pickett citing the additive burden on homeowners already subject to a state stamp tax of $4.56 per thousand. Lead sponsor Councilor Nolan stressed that passing the order "does nothing to enact a tax of any kind" in Cambridge, but gives municipalities statewide the legal option to act. The voucher order, led by Councilor Siddiqui and co-sponsored by Mayor Simmons and Vice Mayor McGovern among others, passed with amendments from Councilor Pickett directing staff to identify existing funding sources including unallocated ARPA dollars, Affordable Housing Trust funds, and CPA dollars. The council also approved an $300,000 supplemental appropriation for outside legal costs covering the Eversource substation proceeding, the Vail Court eminent domain case, parental leave coverage, and specialized contract negotiations.