Allegheny County keeps drink tax laws

Two separate bids to put voter referendum questions about the drink tax on Allegheny County ballots have failed in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
Both proposals were denied because the court ruled that only county council had the authority to regulate taxes, not voters.
Pennsylvania Restaurant Association Western Chapter President Jeff Cohen says this is a blow to the restaurant industry in Allegheny County, which he says will lose customers to businesses in neighboring counties. Cohen says his group will continue to fight the tax even though they have no more appeals to the court.
Cohen says while the tax is in place, it should only take effect until it raises the revenue needed for its intended target – the Port Authority.
One voter referendum question, proposed by the Restaurant Association, would have asked voters if they would like to cut the county drink tax to .5%.
County council proposed the other question, which asked voters if they preferred the drink tax to an increase in property taxes.
County Executive Dan Onorato reacted to the ruling bay saying, "I am glad the Supreme Court resolved this issue in the manner it did. The decision will ensure a ninth consecutive year with no property tax increase in Allegheny County."