Drink Tax Ruling In Favor Of F.A.C.T.

Allegheny County Commonwealth Court Judge Judith Olson ruled today that Allegheny County can not use excess drink tax money for infrastructure improvements by granting a preliminary injunction on the excess drink tax money. This decision pleased the group F.A.C.T. (Friends Against Counterproductive Taxation) who filed the suit in court. Kevin Joyce who is the owner of the Carlton restaurant downtown and a member of F.A.C.T. said that with the ruling he feels the county should lower the tax even more.

Mike Wojcik, Allegheny County Solicitor, said that with the ruling County Council would have to re-open the budget, but instead of lowering the drink tax he said "don't be surprised" if property taxes are raised to fill the $12 million hole in the budget. Wojcik said that the county will appeal the ruling to the Commonwealth Court on Monday.