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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Paul Costa |
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Costa introduces bills aimed at fairness in taxes
PITTSBURGH, Nov. 20 -- State Rep. Paul Costa, D-Allegheny, today announced that he is introducing a package of bills aimed at bringing more fairness to taxes in Pennsylvania.
Costa's first proposal would prohibit tuition taxes such as the one proposed by Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl on students attending Pittsburgh universities and colleges. In an effort to close the city's budget gap, Ravenstahl has proposed levying a 1 percent tax on students based on their tuition at Pittsburgh colleges and universities. The tax would impact students at Duquesne University, the University of Pittsburgh, Carlow University, Carnegie Melon University, Point Park University and others in the city.
"I understand we are in hard economic times and we have to look for ways to raise revenue, but I will not stand for raising this revenue at the expense of our students," Costa said. "We cannot place our financial burdens as a city on college students, many of whom can barely pay for their books and tuition, let alone a tax on that tuition."
Costa said he is also concerned about the process for raising taxes that municipalities and the General Assembly use, in general.
"Two out of the five city council members who voted with the mayor for the tax increase will not be there next year," he pointed out. "One of the council members was defeated in her re-election bid and the other decided not run for re-election as a council member. These two members will not even be around to see how their decision will hurt the students. The fact that this was even allowed to happen highlights an even greater problem with the way our tax increases are often decided."
Another Costa bill would require any tax increase approved by a municipality to pass by at least a two-thirds majority if the vote is taken during what is known as a "lame duck" period – the time before a legislative body's adjournment when it will not convene again before newly elected members take office.
Costa said his final bill would place the same "lame duck" restrictions on tax legislation considered by the General Assembly.
"I believe the same rules and set of standards on raising taxes should apply across the board to the General Assembly, city councils, borough councils and township supervisors," he said. "We are talking about taxpayer money here. The people who put up these votes should be accountable for those votes."