Acton Select Board unanimously backs local real estate transfer fee legislation

ACTON -- September 8, 2025, Acton Select Board votes unanimously to endorse real estate transfer fee legislation. The board's September 8 vote sends a letter of support to the state legislature backing a bill that would allow municipalities to levy a fee on high-value real estate transactions, with proceeds earmarked for affordable housing. Bob Jackson of the Acton Community Housing Corporation told the board that 88 of Acton's 290 property transactions in 2024 exceeded $1 million, and that a 0.05 percent fee on the value above $1 million would have generated roughly $557,000 that year. Finance Committee member Karen Oksa, speaking for herself, warned the threshold could capture more than half of typical Acton sales because the bill sets the floor at either $1 million or the Middlesex County median home value, currently around $850,000, whichever is lower. Chair Dean Minnich framed his support narrowly: "I'm supporting this so that not only Acton, but all the communities have an opportunity to decide if this works or not." In other business, the board approved a pledge of Santa Fe Burrito Grill's liquor license as loan collateral on a 4-1 vote, unanimously licensed the Wonder multi-cuisine fast-casual restaurant at 145 Great Road, and granted Let's Roll LLC a 60-day expansion of operating hours at its 930 Main Street firearms retail location while landlord and tenants negotiate a permanent arrangement.