Tuesday Follies

The Pittsburgh Public Service Fund voted to bequeath some money to the City of Pittsburgh over another three years, in payments in lieu of payments in lieu of taxes -- but they'll figure out how much later. (P-G, Rich Lord)

"We can't operate government out of a tin cup," said Council President Doug Shields, arguing that the state should set rules requiring contributions by tax-exempt groups.

We think that's new news.

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Allegheny County Council will hear public statements tonight on the proposed new taxes to help shore up public transit. (P-G, Ann Belser)

[Council President Rich Fitzgerald, D-Squirrel Hill] said the county has not raised taxes since it went to an assessment system in which values were tied to 2002 values. Additionally, he said the property taxes for homeowners have gone down because of the increase in the homestead exemption, from $10,000 to $15,000.

"People have really gotten a break on county taxes," he said.

Someone should tell talk radio.

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After running in the Great Race, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said he is generally in favor of bringing back the Pittsburgh Marathon -- and perhaps participating. (Trib, JoAnne Klimovich Harrop)

"This was a great workout," he said. "It kind of got the competitive juices flowing. I finished in under 50 (minutes), which was my goal. Now, running a marathon would be much more difficult. But I would love to do a marathon. We'll see."

Training for a marathon can't be that time-consuming.