Title
Motion Expressing the Sense of the Council of Allegheny County calling upon the Chief Executive to submit, as part of the comprehensive fiscal plan for 2009, a reduction in the alcoholic drink tax rate and/or the car rental tax rate; or in lieu thereof, a reduction in the real property tax millage rate of at least .10 (1/10) mills and/or an increase in the Homestead Exemption of at least $5,000 (i.e. from $15,000 to $20,000 per eligible residential property).
Body
WHEREAS, for fiscal year 2008, the Chief Executive proposed, and this Council approved, both an alcoholic drink tax and a car rental tax; and
WHEREAS, the Chief Executive's stated purpose in proposing the alcoholic drink and car rental taxes was to raise approximately $30 million budgeted to cover the County's subsidy of the Port Authority; and
WHEREAS, the Chief Executive also made it clear to this Council that the adoption of the aforesaid taxes would obviate any need to raise the real property tax millage to subsidize the Port Authority;
WHEREAS, given that collections of the aforesaid taxes through July 25, 2008 exceed $25 million, it is clear that the revenues from the alcoholic drink and car rental taxes will vastly surpass the budgeted figures for the same, most likely by as much as $15 million; and
WHEREAS, it would be unfair and unconscionable that the County continue to garner such excess revenues from these taxes without providing some form of taxpayer relief; and
WHEREAS, it behooves both the Chief Executive and this Council to these excess revenues to reduce the alcoholic drink tax rate and/or the car rental tax rate or, in lieu thereof, to relieve at least a portion of the burden of the real property tax on County residents and taxpayers for fiscal year 2009; and
WHEREAS, a .10 (1/10) reduction in the real property tax millage would mean an approximate $6 million reduction in real property tax revenues per annum, while a $5,000 increase in the Hom...
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