tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481330.post113142250023948012..comments2023-10-24T11:05:25.288-04:00Comments on Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events: Council postpones vote on payments by nonprofitsMark Rauterkushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17157914569686528007noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481330.post-1131423443610409992005-11-07T23:17:00.000-05:002005-11-07T23:17:00.000-05:00Council postpones vote on payments by nonprofitsMo...<I>Council postpones vote on payments by nonprofits<BR/><BR/>Monday, November 07, 2005<BR/>By Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette<BR/><BR/>A narrow majority on Pittsburgh City Council today delayed a proposed contract with a nonprofit consortium that would bring the cash-poor city $13.2 million in revenue over three years. The council majority said not enough information has been provided.<BR/><BR/>The payments would come from at least 94 hospitals and healthcare systems, universities and other tax-exempt institutions. Under the proposed contract, contributors would be freed from any existing agreements they have now to make payments in lieu of taxes to the city.<BR/><BR/>The Pittsburgh Public Service Fund, which represents the contributing nonprofit organizations, has said it won't provide a list of the donors until council approves the contract.<BR/><BR/>Councilman Doug Shields said he has requested copies of those existing agreements but the administration has not yet provided them. He said the administration has argued that it cannot determine which agreements would be canceled, since it doesn't yet know who the contributors under the proposed new contract would be.<BR/><BR/>Mr. Shields called that "circular logic" and said the obvious solution would be the release to council of all existing agreements with nonprofit organizations. "What's the rush to this?" he said of the contract vote. "The agreement before us is incomplete."<BR/><BR/>Joining him in voting to delay consideration of the contract were Twanda Carlisle, William Peduto, Luke Ravenstahl and Council President Gene Ricciardi.<BR/><BR/>Administration spokesman Craig Kwiecinski said all agreements were in the hands of city Treasurer Rich Fees, who is away today. He said the agreements would be assembled as soon as Mr. Fees returned and would be provided to council and the media.<BR/><BR/>A final council vote could occur on Nov. 15.</I>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com