Pittsburg’s City Council will vote today as whether or not to put a 1% tax on college tuition. If passed, it would be the first tax placed on tuition in the nation. The majority of colleges in Pittsburg—and students alike— have raised serious aversion towards the possibility of such a tax. The $16 million tax would fund the city’s pensions and, thus, is deemed as a necessary tax according to Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. The mayor stated that, “It’s really a disappointment that we’re in this situation…our colleges and universities are giving less and less while they increase tuition and executive pay and expand their campuses, removing high value land from the tax rolls. The cost to provide public safety and public works services continues to increase, but our revenue continues to decrease.”
If passed, the tax would go into effect starting as early as July and the city’s cheaper schools would charge students $20 a year, while the more elite universities would charge nearly $400 a year! Many students are outraged at this possibility of a tax increase, stating that “holding students hostage in negotiations with non-profits to come up with money to pay for bloated city pension plans is divisive.”
Furthermore, college is thoroughly expensive as it is. Students have enough scholastic obligations without having to worry about their increasing debt, as well. So stay informed! If you’re a student and your state proposes such a tax, don’t be the last to fight it!
