NOTE: The following Press Release is being distributed for Adam Hogue, Candidate for Barnstable County Commissioner.

Adam Hogue Opposes New “Taylor Swift Tax” on Cape Cod Homes

County Commissioner Candidate Says Cape Cod Needs Housing

Solutions, Not Another Property Tax

BARNSTABLE COUNTY, MA – August 11, 2026 – Adam Hogue, candidate for Barnstable County Commissioner, announced today his opposition to the proposed “Taylor Swift Tax,” proposed by career politicians offering Cape Cod residents the same tired answer to every problem: another tax.

“Cape Cod has a serious housing problem. The solution cannot simply be more taxes,” Hogue said. “Working families know how hard it is to make ends meet here on the Cape. This proposal will only make the problem worse.”

The new tax, modeled after a similar one levied in Rhode Island, would impose an additional property tax on certain high-value homes that are not occupied or rented for at least half the year. Revenue from the tax would then be used to provide mortgage assistance to year-round residents.

Hogue said the proposal represents the wrong approach to Cape Cod’s housing crisis. “Calling something a ‘Taylor Swift Tax’ makes for a catchy headline, but public policy should be about more than catchy names,” Hogue said. “Many second homeowners have been part of Cape Cod communities for decades. They pay property taxes, hire local contractors, eat at our restaurants, shop at our businesses, and contribute significantly to our local economy. We should not treat them as an endless source of new tax revenue.”

Hogue also warned that taxes initially targeted at expensive properties could affect more homeowners over time

“A million-dollar home on Cape Cod does not mean what it did 20 years ago,” Hogue said. “Property values have risen dramatically, and families who bought modest homes decades ago may now own properties worth amounts they never imagined. We need to be extremely careful about creating another tax structure that can expand over time.”

Instead, Hogue is calling for a comprehensive housing strategy focused on increasing supply, cutting unnecessary regulatory barriers, partnering with local communities, and creating incentives for private and nonprofit investment.

“We absolutely need housing for our teachers, first responders, healthcare workers, young families, and seniors,” Hogue said. “But the sustainable solution is to use the resources taxpayers already provide more effectively.”

Hogue said the debate illustrates the broader choice he wants to bring to county government.

 

“Unfortunately, career politicians too often look to failing states for new taxes instead of doing the difficult work of responsible governing,” Hogue said. “I’m running to make Barnstable County more affordable and to make the hard decisions required of local leaders. I am the only candidate in this race opposed to all new taxes in Barnstable County, and I will work with all 15 towns on real solutions that make it possible for people to live, work, and do business here.”

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About Adam Hogue

Adam Hogue is a candidate for Barnstable County Commissioner, a 20-year U.S. Army veteran, financial professional, small business owner, and Cape Cod resident. His campaign is focused on common-sense solutions, fiscal responsibility, housing affordability, support for veterans and vulnerable residents, economic development, and preserving local control.