Allegheny County Alcoholic Beverage Tax
Encyclopedia
The Allegheny County Alcoholic Beverage Tax is a county tax on retail sale of alcoholic beverages within Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
.
The tax, a 10% levy on served alcohol, was passed by the Allegheny County Council and signed into law by Dan Onorato
, Allegheny County's Chief Executive on December 4, 2007. On January 1, 2009, the tax rate was reduced to 7%. The tax is collected at the point of sale
by restaurants and bars and is collected by Allegheny County Treasurer on a monthly basis. The funds were dedicated to fund the Port Authority of Allegheny County
.
The tax encountered significant resistance and spawned an organized advocacy group called Friends Against Counter-Productive Taxation (FACT). The organization was able to have referendum placed on the ballot to lower the drink tax, but it was overturned by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. In 2009, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl
expressed a desire to acquire a portion of this tax for the city's failing pension system, a possibility that Allegheny County officials opposed, citing that the state law authorizing the tax required the money to be directed towards the Port Authority of Allegheny County
.
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
.
The tax, a 10% levy on served alcohol, was passed by the Allegheny County Council and signed into law by Dan Onorato
Dan Onorato
Daniel "Dan" Onorato is the current Chief Executive of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. On Tuesday, May 18, 2010, Onorato won a crowded four-way primary to become the Democratic nominee for governor...
, Allegheny County's Chief Executive on December 4, 2007. On January 1, 2009, the tax rate was reduced to 7%. The tax is collected at the point of sale
Point of sale
Point of sale or checkout is the location where a transaction occurs...
by restaurants and bars and is collected by Allegheny County Treasurer on a monthly basis. The funds were dedicated to fund the Port Authority of Allegheny County
Port Authority of Allegheny County
Port Authority of Allegheny County is the second-largest public transit agency in Pennsylvania and the 11th-largest in the United States. When considering that its service area is the 20th largest in the U.S...
.
The tax encountered significant resistance and spawned an organized advocacy group called Friends Against Counter-Productive Taxation (FACT). The organization was able to have referendum placed on the ballot to lower the drink tax, but it was overturned by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. In 2009, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl
Luke Ravenstahl
Luke Robert Ravenstahl is the current Mayor of Pittsburgh. In September 2006, he became the youngest mayor in Pittsburgh's history at the age of 26. He is among the youngest mayors of a major city in American history....
expressed a desire to acquire a portion of this tax for the city's failing pension system, a possibility that Allegheny County officials opposed, citing that the state law authorizing the tax required the money to be directed towards the Port Authority of Allegheny County
Port Authority of Allegheny County
Port Authority of Allegheny County is the second-largest public transit agency in Pennsylvania and the 11th-largest in the United States. When considering that its service area is the 20th largest in the U.S...
.