A county judge recently struck down a Pittsburgh City fee aimed at professional athletes, citing its unconstitutionality. What the city officials call a ‘facility fee' served as a tax on athletes – both residents of Pittsburgh and visitors alike – who used the city's sports venues, including PPG Paints Arena (Penguins), Acrisure Stadium (Steelers), and PNC Park (Pirates).
The facility challenged in the suit consisted of a flat 3% of personal income earned in Pittsburgh for visiting athletes and 1% for residents of the city. This is this caveat that would ultimately undo the tax.
Paula Reed Ward of TribLive writes, "According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs alleged that the city's fee was actually an illegal tax because it treats resident and non-resident athletes differently. They argued that Pennsylvania's Constitution requires uniformity in taxes across the same class of subjects."
Former NHLer Scott Wilson, along with Islanders' forward
Kyle Palmieri, were among the plaintiffs in this case in conjunction with the players' associations of Major League Baseball, and the National Football and National Hockey Leagues, per Ward.
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Palmieri alleged in the suit that he paid at least $6,660 between 2016-2018, as a member of the New Jersey Devils, a divisional opponent to the Penguins. Per
HockeyReference, the Devils visited Pittsburgh 7 times in that duration. Similarly, Wilson -- a 2011 seventh-round pick of the Penguins -- alleged he paid just under $6,000 over 33 games in Pittsburgh.
This is a massive win for players in the Metropolitan Division, who have to play in Pittsburgh at least twice a season. Palmieri basically paid $1,000 per game for the privilege of playing in Pittsburgh.
What has become known as 'the Jock Tax' is no more, thanks to County Judge Christine Ward. I have always said, 'Judge Christine Ward is a people's judge.'
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