To: The Massachusetts State Senate

Big developers should pay their fair share!

The small town of Provincetown, Massachusetts, with a population of 3008 residents, hosts over 50,000 people on many summer weekends. We have to provide a water supply, police, garbage pickup, etc.

Renting condos is a big business in Provincetown. The buying and selling of condos accounts for over $149,400,000 of real estate sold here last year. Only 7% were sales of homes by Town residents.

We want the state to pass a one half percent real estate transfer fee on purchase of property for Providence to help us shoulder this cost.

Nantucket has had a real estate transfer fee for years so we know it works.

Please pass HR3300. We want to raise this revenue locally to protect and enhance our town with no expense to other taxpayers of the state and without asking for money from the state. Please require big developers to pay their fair share.

Why is this important?

The voters of Provincetown, Massachusetts, have passed at our Annual Town Meeting this year, and indeed for the last seven years, a bill to impose a one half percent real estate transfer fee on purchase of property. First time home owners would be exempt.

Not many towns would want to have a real estate transfer fee. Provincetown is quite unique and the only town coming to you for approval in the last decade.