Presenter
Presented by Mr. Ricciardi
Title
Communication from Mayor Tom Murphy submitting a Veto of Council Bill No. 689 entitled, "Ordinance amending the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances Article IX: Property Taxes: Chapter 263 Real Property Tax and Exemption, , Section 263.02 Payment Options, Discount and Delinquency Penalty," by increasing the discount rate by 1% to 3% if paid by January 7, 2005, for year 2005 only.
Body
ATTACHMENT
October 22, 2004
President and Members of Council
5th Floor, City-County Building
414 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Dear President and Members of Council:
By way of this communication, I am vetoing Council Bill # 689 of 2004 "Amending the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances Article IX: Property Taxes; Chapter 263 Real Property Tax and Exemption, Section 263.02 Payment Options, Discount and Delinquency Penalty, by increasing the discount rate by 1% to 3% if paid by January 7, 2005 for the year 2005 only". Although this proposal has some merit, the legal, financial, logistical and operational impediments are simply too great to overcome.
First, and perhaps most importantly, the Act 47 Coordinators, the team of financial and legal professionals directed by the state to help us address our budget problems, have expressed serious reservations about this idea. They have made clear their belief that this proposal may be in direct violation of the Act 47 Plan's prohibition against further tax abatements. It is easy to say that you disagree with their position, but we must take their concerns seriously.
Second, at this time, the Pittsburgh Public School District has not agreed to include this extra 1% discount on its bills. The Public School Code, 24 P.S. Section 6-657, stipulates that "School District taxes shall be collected as provided by law, at the same time, in the same manner, and with like authority, and subject to the same discounts and penalties as other taxes collected in the municipality." ...
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