Peduto proposes tax increase (Pittsburgh: real estate, 2014, schools)

[Pghuser]

Proposed 0.5-mill real estate tax increase is in the proposed budget...

Mayor's budget proposal includes tax increase, would end 'financial distress' - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

[AaronPGH]

I'm willing to pay an extra $80 a year if it (along with smart budget adjustments) finally keeps the city out of financial issues. Our infrastructure is a mess.

Of course, UPMC paying taxes would be better, but you know...

[pman]

Originally Posted by AaronPGH

I'm willing to pay an extra $80 a year if it (along with smart budget adjustments) finally keeps the city out of financial issues. Our infrastructure is a mess.

Of course, UPMC paying taxes would be better, but you know...

wouldn't it primarily go to the schools (which themselves have a financial predicament)? It seems like a reasonable increase for the right reasons with the biggest risk that it doesn't put an end to budget games.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Sadly an extra 8 million wouldn't do a whole lot to even put a dent in infrastructure. Fixing our sewers alone has a price tag of nearly 3 billion and that is before we even touch roads, bridges, schools, and fire/police/other administrative assets.

[pman]

speaking of water and sewer, are they still pursuing an overly expensive grey plan?

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by pman

speaking of water and sewer, are they still pursuing an overly expensive grey plan?

Yes, but not as overly expensive as before.

The sewers are, of course, on a different budget.

[FreightTrainRunning]

The mayor said the increase is needed to plug a $7.3 million-a-year revenue hole that opened after former Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s administration dropped the rate following the countywide real estate reassessment in 2012. Mr. Ravenstahl’s staff was trying to ensure tax revenue stayed at the prior year’s level but lowered the rate too far, Mr. Peduto said.

So technically a tax rate increase but really just trying to adjust back to the same state revenue was in before the reassessments.

[Tinare]

Originally Posted by GeneW

So technically a tax rate increase but really just trying to adjust back to the same state revenue was in before the reassessments.

That's how I read it too. I don't have a problem with it.

[RyanR]

Maybe it's just me but I always have a problem with tax increases.

How about they just trim some of their government fat and waste to get the money they say they need.

[ferraris]

I don't have a problem with it necessarily, assuming the administrations claims are true.

I am surprised though that they are willing to sacrifice political capital on a tax increase that simply meets existing obligations. Obviously a balanced budget is a good thing, but once you get into "Mayor Peduto is increasing our taxes!" territory it seems like you might as well go for more than half a mill and connect it to real infrastructure or service upgrades and expansions.