Allegheny County Council Increases Taxes 1 Mill

Allegheny County Executive-elect Rich Fitzgerald has applauded county council members for their "courageous vote" on Tuesday to raise county taxes 1 mill for 2012.

According to a story in the Dec. 7 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, council divided, 11-4, along party lines to approve a $784-million operating budget and the tax hike to pay for it. All Democrats voted for the budget and tax bills, and all Republicans voted against them.

"I know that it was a difficult decision, but I stand with many leaders of our community in commending the members for recognizing that increasing the millage was something that had to be done," Fitzgerald said in a press release. "With council's vote, services to the disabled, children and elderly in our community will continue to be available to them, as well as other services for our residents in this difficult economy."

Fitzgerald said that he remains committed to identify and benefit from economies of scale, to determine and implement efficiencies, and to allow the county to profit from more effective service delivery methods. He said that he is hopeful that the more occasions that county officials have to find savings the less that the county will need to rely on property tax as a source of revenue.

"The property tax is a regressive tax that hurts our economy and investment," Fitzgerald said. "Unfortunately, it is the only option we have.

"If the state would give the county a similar menu of revenue options as they have from which to choose, I'm sure that, working with county council, we could get the property tax to zero in Allegheny County."

John F. Palmiere, a former Baldwin-Whitehall School Board member, represents , and on county council. Palmiere voted in favor of the increase.

Agree or disagree with the council's decision? Tell us in the comments section below.

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