Santa Fe voters approve tax on mansions as housing prices soar

By MORGAN LEE
Associated Press

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Voters have approved a tax on mansions to pay for affordable housing initiatives in the state capital city of Santa Fe. Uncertified election results on Wednesday show nearly three-fourths of ballots were cast in favor of the new tax on home sales over $1 million, in a city prized for its high-desert vistas, vibrant arts scene and stucco architecture. The ballot measure was pitched as a lifeline to teachers, service-sector workers, single parents and youth professionals who can’t afford local mortgages or struggle to pay rent. Los Angeles last year adopted a so-called mansion tax to address homelessness, while Chicago and Massachusetts contemplate related initiatives.