Allegheny's Drink Tax

Earlier this week, Allegheny County passed its new budget that included, among other things, a new 10% poured alcohol drink tax. The restaurateurs pledge to fight it, and it didn't take long for its impact to be projected. The Tribune-Review today noted some of the possible effects of this tax.

The populations of towns near the border of Allegheny County -- communities like Cranberry in Butler County or Peters in Washington County -- have surged in recent years as businesses sprawl farther from Downtown.

A partner in the P.F. Chang's China Bistro at The Waterfront told officials he likely wouldn't consider a new location in the county. Another business owner compared the county's population -- which Census figures show has dropped 8.5 percent since 1990 -- to Cranberry's, which nearly doubled during the same period.

"Why?" asked John Graf, who owns The Priory, a North Side hotel. "Lower taxes, easier to deal with government, easier to start a business -- simple as that."