Pittsburgh Could Tax Medical Patients, College Students

PITTSBURGH, PA — City council is considering implementing a 1-percent tax on college students and medical patients to help pay for infrastructure upkeep and improvements.

Councilman Ricky Burgess has introduced an ordinance that would impose a wide-ranging "user fee" that he says could generate an estimated $50 million annually to keep the city's aging roads and bridges in good condition. City infrastructure has been a hot-button issue since the January collapse of the Fern Hollow Bridge in Frick Park.

The tax would be applied to those treated at hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation facilities and any other facility furnishing medical, therapeutic, psychological or vocational care.” Residences for mentally, physically or age-incapacitated people.

The tax also would be applied to the full tuition amount at higher education institutions such as the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University and Duquesne University.

The tax would apply to people who don't live in the city. But the ordinance notes that all users of tax-exempt medical and higher institutions receive services from the city - such as emergency treatment, sanitation services and police and fire protection - regardless of where they live.

A public hearing will be held before any vote is taken on the legislation.

See the entire ordinance here.

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