Really?!?!This is just ridiculous!
It seems like the people who want to tax the colleges and universities must not have children attending and they have not recently attended college. I know I still have more schooling to go, but I already have around $40,000 in debt and I only took out enough to pay tuition. All of my other expenses I paid for by having 1-2 jobs while enrolled in school full-time. I know there are other college students that will graduate with more debt than I have, but I really think that adding more to the cost of education is a very idiotic thing to do.
We have jobs in Pittsburgh so we pay taxes on that income, we rent apartments so we pay taxes on that, we have cars here, which provide parking taxes,” said David Gau, an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, adding that he resented the portrayal of students as freeloaders. “We go to a variety of events like symphony, sports games, plays, concerts, and there are amusement taxes on those that produce even more revenue from us.
I agree that college students help stimulate the economy, but it's not just in Pittsburgh. We also stimulate the economy in those small towns with community colleges, and the large towns with universities, like Fargo and Grand Forks. We pay taxes when we eat out, when we shop, on the electrical utilities if you live off campus, and all those other expenses.
“City officials see this as an untapped revenue source, and if Pittsburgh succeeds, I think you will see a lot of other cities immediately move to do the same,” said Terry Hartle of the American Council on Education,
I am very disappointed in our nation.
It seems like they are so focused on stimulating the economy,and so desperate to get money, that it doesn't matter where the government in cities or states gets it from, just so long as they get the money. Education is important and they should have no complaints about colleges and universities. Our generations are the ones that will be taking care of these people in their old age, because we are the future. If they start adding a tax on tuition, I think it will deter more people from college. The U.S. is already a lacking nation of education. Other foreign countries like China, Japan, and even all of Europe outrank the U.S. with the percentage of people who attended/have attended colleges. It's no wonder so many companies are overseas......
Yes, education is expensive,and there doesn't need to be more expenses added to something that is costly already.
I think there are only a few people who attended college without having a part-time job sometime while attending, but that was because they were on full scholarship or their education was paid for by wealthy parents/relatives.
:BangHead: I do hope that the people in Pittsburgh at least have enough common sense to say no to passing this measure for taxes on tuition. If not, I hope that this issue does go to courts and gets turned down immediately!