Presented by Mr. Shields
Title
Communication from Mayor Luke Ravenstahl submitting a Veto of Council Bill No. 2007-1796, entitled, “Ordinance amending and supplementing the Pittsburgh Code, Title Two, Fiscal, Article VII, Business Related Taxes, Chapter 253 Parking Tax, Subsection 253.02 Levy and Rate, by freezing the rate of taxation at 45% for Budget Year 2008 and directing that funds be earmarked and deposited equally into the Debt Service Reserve Fund and the Comprehensive Municipal Pension Trust Fund.”
Attachment
October 17, 2007
President and Members of Council
510 City County Building
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Dear President and Members of Council:
By way of this communication, I hereby veto City Council Bill #2007-1796, which is the ordinance authorizing a freeze of the parking tax at its current rate of forty-five (45) percent for 2008.
I commend City Council for bringing the conversation to the fore. I plan to continue dialogue with our friends in the state legislature in regard to this matter. In doing so, it is my hope that we can reach an accord ensuring that continued cuts in the parking tax will benefit the parking public, as originally intended.
From the time of my election to City Council, we have worked together to improve the financial health of our city. As Mayor, ensuring Pittsburgh's comprehensive fiscal stability has been at the top of my agenda. Since Pittsburgh entered into Act 47 we have already foregone $66.3 million in revenues projected in the original Act 47 plan, due largely to delays in gaming and the revenues to be derived there from, as well as shortfalls in the payroll preparation tax. Nonetheless, through sound fiscal management, we have grown our fund balance to over $80 million, and by continuing to do more with less, we have continued to reduce expenditures in excess of the requirements in the original Act 47 plan.
As you know, in 2007...
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