Pitt. mayor seeks delay on tuition vote

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl called Wednesday for the postponement of a City Council vote on his proposal to levy a city tax on college tuition.

Ravenstahl said in a letter to the council that he and other Pittsburgh leaders have made progress in efforts to gain the support of local non-profit colleges and universities for the measure, which would impose a 1 percent tax on the tuition students pay, and so was seeking a second delay in the vote, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

"Over the last several days, thanks to your strength, conviction and support, we have made progress," Ravenstahl wrote, "enough so that I feel that a one-week hold on this bill is an appropriate measure. My goal is to come to an agreement with the non-profit community before the end of the year and I am more hopeful than ever that we can do that."

The newspaper said Councilwomen Tonya Payne and Theresa Smith were continuing to negotiate with university leaders who are vehemently opposed to the tax and refuse enter into any negotiations until the proposal is shelved.

Carlow University president Mary Hines told the Post-Gazette that "conversations" were indeed taking place.