Politics

Drink Tax Battle Could Spill Into Voting Booths

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― A local group wants voters to decide if the Allegheny County drink tax should stay or go.

But Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato says getting rid of the drink tax could end up costing taxpayers even more.

The Whiskey Rebellion II wants to put a referendum question on the November ballot to cut the county's drink tax down to one-half of one percent - effectively eliminating it.

"We've got about 135 restaurants and bars committed as petition collection points right now and we expect to have more as the campaign gears up," John Graf, of the Whiskey Rebellion II, said.

It's a grassroots campaign with signs, stickers, t-shirts and even a special beer glass. On the back it says: "Hey Dan the tax man .. Don't tax our beer ....!!"

The group needs more than 23,000 signatures to get on the ballot, but it may not be the only question on the ballot.

Onorato may offer his own or challenge the repeal.

"We haven't decided yet. There's a lot of legal issues here too," he said. "I'm not so sure that the Home Rule Charter contemplated being allowed to change revenues mid-stream."

Onorato says it's a public transit issue because the county is required to come up with $30 million to get all the federal transit money.

"Every transit agency in the United States has that same federal requirement," he said.

So repealing the drink tax means increasing county property taxes by about 20 percent, and Onorato says he will fight that from happening.

"I'm going to go to every senior center in Allegheny County, I'm going to go talk to every property owner in Allegheny County if this continues and we're going to lay it out," he said. "And by the way, it won't be a scare tactic. I'm going to be very honest that if this gets repealed, I gotta give $30 million of your money Mr. and Mrs. Public, and it's coming out of your property taxes."

Bottom line, if the anti-drink tax group gets enough signatures to get their question on the ballot, Onorato may take them to court on whether you can have a referendum on this issue at all. He and County Council may also add their own ballot question, making it clear that a repeal of the drink tax means an increase in property taxes.

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