Hayward voters to decide revenue measure this fall
Hayward voters will be asked this November to consider an increase in the ownership-transfer tax on real estate transactions in the city.
The Real Property Transfer Tax, or RPTT, is assessed once on the purchase or sale of commercial and residential real estate. It generally is paid as part of the transaction closing costs. Responsibility for payment of the tax is shared by buyer and seller.
Currently, the RPTT in Hayward is $4.50 per $1,000 of property value—the lowest among all Alameda County cities that impose a local RPTT. In the Nov. 6 election, Hayward voters will be asked to consider a rate increase of $4 per $1,000 of property value, taking the RPTT to $8.50 per $1,000 of value. Rates elsewhere per $1,000 of value are:
- $15 in Oakland and Berkeley
- $13 in Piedmont
- $12 in Emeryville and Alameda
- $11.50 in Albany
- $6 in San Leandro
An RPTT increase is one of several fiscal strategies under consideration and being implemented by the City Council to close forecasted deficits in the City of Hayward general fund for basic government services.
General fund services include police and fire protection, paramedic response, library and after-school programs, filing potholes, litter pickup and graffiti removal, and administration of affordable housing and paratransit programs.
