City Council
Proposed tax on amusement devices advances to public hearing.
A proposed city tax on amusement devices, such as poker machines and claw machines, would exempt Rivers Casino. It could bring in $2 million to $3 million a year. On May 27, a council member said the city ran a deficit last year and may run another this year. A public hearing hasn't been scheduled yet.
Written by Amy Whipple
When it comes to boosting Pittsburgh’s revenue, city council is taking its chances.
A proposed privilege tax on amusement devices could bring in between $2 million to $3 million a year.
The ordinance would mandate licenses and annual tax payments for amusement devices such as poker machines, claw machines and jukeboxes. It would apply to all business types with Rivers Casino being exempt.
“We have big ticket items that we need to finance,” Council Member Anthony Coghill of Beechview said during the May 27 committee meeting. “Last year, we ran a deficit. First quarter projections for this year tend to point to us running a deficit again this year.” Three years of deficits would trigger the state control over Pittsburgh’s finances under Act 47.
The state oversaw Pittsburgh’s finances from Dec. 2003 to Feb. 2018 under Act 47.
Devices would fall into three classes, categorized by function, and taxed annually per device. The taxes range from $1,000 (e.g., poker machines) to $100 (claw machines) to $10 (darts).
Coghill and Council Member Bob Charland of the South Side pointed out the proliferation of gambling machines, not just in bars but in places like gas stations, too.
“This is not like a night out at the casino. This really is a tax on an addiction,” said Charland.
A public hearing on the matter has not been scheduled.
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