Deal To Avert Tuition Tax

There is a deal with some of Pittsburgh's non-profits on making contributions to the city which will eliminate the proposed 1% college tuition tax. The details are being announced this morning at a news conference by Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. DUQ's Mark Nootbaar who is at the news briefing reports the deal involves the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University and Highmark, which have made a "handshake" agreement to make the largest contributions to the city in their institution's histories. The mayor would not provide specific figures but said the agreements includes the largest ever individual contributions from Pitt, CMU and Highmark. The mayor expects others to follow in the new year. City Council was to take a preliminary vote this afternoon on the tuition tax which the mayor said would generate $16 million a year. Council had delayed voting on the tax three times to continue talks with the universities and other non-profits.