Going to college in Pittsburgh could be more expensive if the City Council passes a measure imposing a 1 percent tax on tuition. It would be the first such tax in the nation.

But my colleague Ian Urbina reports that the measure, which was scheduled for a preliminary vote in the City Council on Wednesday, has been put on hold for a week.

“Over the last several days, thanks to your strength, conviction and support, we have made progress,” Mayor Luke Ravenstahl wrote in a letter Wednesday to City Council members, citing progress in his discussions with Pittsburgh’s nonprofit community. “I feel that a one-week hold on this bill is an appropriate measure.”

Mayor Ravenstahl contends the city needs the $15 million in annual tax revenue from the tax to pay for municipal pensions.

students at the city’s 10 colleges and universities hailed the decision to postpone action on the tax.

“We came together and communicated what we need and that this is a bad policy,” said Daniel Jimenez, a graduate student at University of Pittsburgh and president of the graduate and professional student assembly “This is a victory for all our efforts.”

The tax, which would have taken effect as early as July, would have ranged from about $27 a year for students at the Community College of Allegheny County to just over $409 for students at the city’s priciest university, Carnegie Mellon.

Other cities, like Boston and Providence, R.I., have also considered taxing college tuition, Mr. Urbina reports.

While many city residents support the tax, students are angry about it.

“We have jobs in Pittsburgh so we pay taxes on that income, we rent apartments so we pay taxes on that, we have cars here, which provide parking taxes,” said David Gau, an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, adding that he resented the portrayal of students as freeloaders. “We go to a variety of events like symphony, sports games, plays, concerts, and there are amusement taxes on those that produce even more revenue from us.”

“Why try to divert new people from coming here with a college tax?” added Mr. Gau, 21, who is from Kennett Square, Pa. “It’s the furthest thing from fair.”

Chad Ellis, 28, a graduate student in chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University and a Pittsburgh homeowner, agreed.

“Holding students hostage in negotiations with nonprofits to come up with money to pay for bloated city pension plans is divisive,” he said.

 

 

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Article written by Jack Kadden