Council Delays Tuition Tax Vote Again

For the second week in a row the Pittsburgh City Council has voted to delay a vote on the 1% tax on college tuition. Councilmen Bill Peduto, Bruce Kraus and Doug Shields voted against the one-week hold. All other members voted for the delay except Jim Motznik who was absent. Councilwoman Tonya Payne told her fellow council member that she feels the universities and the mayor are making progress on a plan that would have the schools making voluntary payments to the city. Similar deals reached between the city and a consortium of non-profit groups have had mixed results in prior years. Peduto and Shields say the universities have told them time and time again that they will not negotiate with the city until the threat of the tuition tax is gone. Payne and Theresa Smith feel the tax is the only thing keeping the schools at the table. The five members who have pledged to vote for the tax if a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes deal is not reached by the end of the year says they continue to hope for another solution. Those against the measure say it is a tax that is not only illegal, but it would also send a bad message that would be heard around the world. Last week Bruce Kraus voted for the hold but this week voted against it saying the mayor had not asked him for a hold so he was not inclined to give it to him just based on media reports.