Several County Councilmen Call For Tax Referendum On Ballot

Several Allegheny County Council members introduced an ordinance at Tuesday night's meeting.

It called for a tax referendum to be put on the November ballot.

This would allow voters to determine the fate of Allegheny County's drink tax.

Councilman Matt Drozd said he wants to ease the burden on not only businesses, but taxpayers, too.

"The people that frequent those restaurants are really paying the tax. They pay it, it's right there in the bottom line and it's a tax on them; it's not just a tax on the businesses," he said Tuesday.

Since January, the drink and car rental tax, combined, has collected more than $14 million for the Port Authority.

Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato said he will not raise property taxes to fund transit services.