The Real Property Transfer Tax — A November 2026 Fiscal Decision

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Albany is heading toward a landmark November 2026 ballot measure that could reshape how the city funds its services for years to come. The City Council is evaluating a progressive, tiered Real Property Transfer Tax for the 2026 ballot, potentially targeting higher-value sales to fund core services — a direct response to the end of ARPA pandemic relief funds that have been propping up city programs. Mayor McQuade and the Audit Subcommittee are focused on revenue generation via the 2026 ballot to offset the end of ARPA funds — with the proposed RPTT designed to fall more heavily on luxury home sales than on first-time buyers. Albany already operates six separate parcel taxes, offering exemptions for qualifying homeowners and rebates for qualifying renters — a layered tax structure that reflects how dependent the city's services are on voter-approved revenue. The RPTT would add a new layer, and its design — rates, thresholds, exemptions, and sunset provisions — will be the defining fiscal policy debate of 2026.

Related cause: Taxation and Fiscal Policy

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