Housing

This post offers no analysis, but merely assembles for reference a history of the state’s housing capital plan, related bond authorizations and actual spending.

The state’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities has set a statewide housing production target of 200,000 housing units in the current decade (2020 through 2030). This goal appears to be reasonable from a demand perspective.

The Affordable Homes Act includes several provisions that reduce zoning barriers to housing development. These provisions can only help to produce housing, but it is impossible to confidently predict in advance how much they will help.

In Massachusetts, capital spending is controlled by the governor to a much greater degree than operating spending.

The legislation authorizes $5.16 billion in state borrowing and tax credits to spur housing production, and includes policy initiatives to promote and preserve more affordable housing.

The transfer tax, while it would have compelling short run benefits, would be a mistake for the Commonwealth over the long run.