When Executive Onorato realized that the Drink Tax and Rental Car Tax would collect more money than expected for Port Authority (for 2008, the County needed $27.5 million, budgeted $32 million, and will collect at a minimum $44 million), he decided that the County could use the interest on Drink Tax collections, along with any monies collected over the amount needed for the Port Authority subsidy, on non-Port Authority expenses. The County budget for 2009 reflected this wish.

Mr. Onorato and council members promised when they passed the 10% Drink Tax, the revenue raised would be exclusively used for the Port Authority and that they would search for other sources of revenue to subsidize it. Well, they have done neither and their reckless political actions have crippled the Pittsburgh region’s hospitality industry in an already tough economy, so our fight continues.

Look for a lawsuit in the near future…