Pittsburgh council introduces mechanical amusement-device tax; bill recommitted for public hearing

Pittsburgh City Council on June 2 introduced a proposed Mechanical Amusement Device Tax and voted to recommit the measure to the committee on land use and economic development for a public hearing. The council's legislative projects manager read a statutorily required legal statement describing three device classes and proposed annual taxes: Class 1 devices (including video slot and similar machines) at $1,000 per device; Class 2 devices (machines offering small prizes) at $100 per device; and Class 3 devices (pinball, jukeboxes, darts, pool tables and similar) at $10 per device. The city projected initial revenue of about $2 million to $3 million per year.

The measure is Council Bill 2026-544. Councilman Carill led a series of procedural motions earlier in the meeting to discharge, amend, and ultimately recommit the bill to the land-use committee "and hold for a public hearing." That recommit motion passed on roll call, 8–0. The clerk recorded roll-call responses and the council chair confirmed the motion passed unanimously.

Supporters of the proposed tax framed it as a new general-revenue source to help stabilize infrastructure and the city budget; the legal reading presented the levy as a condition of certain business licenses or permits. Opponents of levies on similar activities have argued in other forums that taxation of devices can affect small local entertainment venues; during this meeting, public commenters and several council members noted equity and small-business impacts as areas for further review.

Next steps: Because council recommitted the bill to committee and held it for a public hearing, the ordinance will return to that committee for at least one public hearing and further deliberation before any final vote.