College Students Rally Against Mayor's Proposed Tuition Tax
A group of dozens of college students showed up at City Hall to voice their opposition to Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's proposed "Fair Share Tax" and present over 10,000 signatures against the 1 percent tuition tax proposal. Student organizers are hoping to change at least one city council member's mind to make a difference in the vote. The council is scheduled to take a preliminary vote on December 9 and a final vote on December 15.
Key Takeaways:
- Over 10,000 signatures were collected against the proposed 1 percent tuition tax, which would generate more than $16 million for the city.
- Student organizers are hoping to persuade at least one city council member to turn against the tax proposal, which could tip the balance in favor of opposing the tax.
- The city's financial overseers, the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, rejected Mayor Ravenstahl's proposed budget because it included the tuition tax without legislation to implement it.
- The city is facing a $15 million budget gap and must find another way to balance the budget by December 31.
- Mayor Ravenstahl has said that he still plans to enact the tax, even if it's not accounted for in the budget, without which the city would be forced to cut services in 2011.
- Council members initially agreed to drop the idea of a tuition tax if post-secondary educational institutions would increase their annual voluntary contributions.
Statistics:
- 10,000+ signatures collected against the proposed tuition tax
- $16 million expected to be generated by the tuition tax
- $453.8 million: the city's proposed budget
- $15 million: the budget gap the city is facing
- 4: the number of city council members who oppose the tax
- 9: the number of city council members in total
Sources:
- "Dozen of college students show up at City Hall to rally against tuition tax: News: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review" (no date available)
- The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
- McClatchy-Tribune Information Services
- The Permissions Group Inc.