PITTSBURGH -- In response to the City Council increasing the parking tax from 31 percent to 50 percent, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership has announced its opposition to such an increase and has urged members of City Council and Mayor Tom Murphy to reconsider their decision.

The PDP released the following statement Monday afternoon:

"We recognize the City's budget process brings pain and frustration across the board in the community, but increasing the parking tax to 50% is not a viable solution to the current fiscal crisis," said Mariann Geyer, executive director of the PDP. "That thinking is short-sighted and will undoubtedly have a critical impact on the economic viability of this city. It will not only affect Downtown Pittsburgh -- the neighborhood that provides the largest portion of this income for the City -- but also Oakland, Shadyside, the South Side and the North Side. Downtown commuters will look for employment elsewhere. Businesses will relocate. Some will close their doors. Potential new business will be driven away."