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Motion Expressing the Sense of Council of Allegheny County urging the Governor of Pennsylvania to reconsider raising the state sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent in order to fund the Commonwealth's 2007-08 budget, which would increase the tax rate in Allegheny County to 8 percent, and which would create a hardship on businesses, taxpayers and consumers.
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WHEREAS, higher state taxes would undermine the ability of businesses in Pennsylvania to compete in the national and global marketplace; and
WHEREAS, increasing the state sales tax will negatively impact small businesses and stunt economic development and growth within the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, a thorough examination of the state's spending rate, especially on health care and alternative energy, is warranted before implementing a new tax rate; and
WHEREAS, while property tax relief remains a top priority for the Commonwealth's administration, it has not yet been made clear whether or to what extent raising the state sales tax will contribute to resolving this multifaceted problem;
NOW THEREFORE, IT IS MOVED, that Allegheny County Council urges the Governor and General Assembly to leave the state sales tax at 6 percent statewide.
In Council_________________________________2007. Read and Approved.
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Rich Fitzgerald
President of Council
Attest: _______________________________________
John Mascio
Chief Clerk of Council