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Even though it hasn't been formally proposed, it already looks to be a long, hard battle for a sales tax to help fund new stadiums, convention centers, and other regional projects.
Many already feel that the increasing of the sales tax by one-quarter to one-half percent in Allegheny and nine surrounding counties will not be well received. According to a proposal by the Regional Renaissance Partnership (a recently formed private-sector group) a sales tax increase, which would raise $480 to $960 million over the next eight years, would be beneficial.
But beneficial to whom?
The money would be divvied up between Allegheny County and the other nine outlying counties (Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, and Westmoreland), based on a formula that has not been solidified; however, Allegheny would probably keep 75% of the proceeds, with the rest going into a regional pool.
Some of the funds would go towards $1 billion in Downtown Pittsburgh projects, including a baseball park for the Pirates, a football stadium or renovated Three Rivers Stadium for the Steelers, a bigger remodeled David L. Lawrence Convention Center, improvements in the Downtown cultural district, and other transportation projects.
The Regional Renaissance Partnership hopes that the state Legislature will act in time for the tax increase proposal to be on the ballot in November.
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