Pittsburgh council delays vote on first-of-its kind tuition tax amid talks with nonprofits

Pittsburgh City Council delays vote on tuition tax

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh City Council has delayed a preliminary vote on the mayor’s proposal to tax tuition paid by students who attend college in the city.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl sent council a letter Wednesday asking to delay the vote because he’s continuing to talk to Pittsburgh’s nonprofit community about ways to help the city. The mayor wants colleges, universities and other nonprofits to make annual payments to help the city meet its budget. The institutions are exempt from many taxes.

City Council was to discuss and vote on the tuition tax Wednesday. That was delayed until Monday.

Ravenstahl says the tax could generate $16.2 million per year to help pay for city pensions. If approved, it would be the first tuition tax of its kind in the country.

(This version CORRECTS that the vote was delayed until Monday.)