The Pittsburgh bailout package was approved by the state Legislature and once again falls on the back of the working person to pay for failed leadership. The legalizing of slot machines was supposed to be the answer to all our problems, but our problems continue to grow. Pittsburgh will now have new taxing authority and, coupled with city budget cuts, will squeeze tax payers to pay for help next year's $77 million budget shortfall. I have a thought for city leaders, spend money like someone has to go out and earn it everyday!
Pittsburgh will raise its occupation tax from $10 to $52. A new 0.55 percent payroll tax will take shape on for-profit city businesses. It will phase out the 6 mill business privilege tax and reduce the city's 50 percent parking tax. The only good news is that commuter income tax idea is history for now. The biggest losers in all this are the people who can least afford it, the city's many transit riders. The Legislature failed to find a way to fund the Port Authority.
Sen. Jane Orie, R-McCandless, said "We are trying to spread the pain across the board." Boy, ain't that the truth!
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