----- Original Message ----- From: Gloria Forouzan Sent: Saturday, October 27, 2012 8:41 AM Subject: 10/30 - City Council PUBLIC HEARING on taxing Billboards Please share & try to attend: City Council PUBLIC HEARING on taxing Billboards Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 1 p.m. City/County bldg., 414 Grant St., Pgh. 15219 (bldg with Mayor Caliguiri statue) You must call to get on the speakers’ list: 412.255.2138 It’s especially important for city residents to attend & speak out. Right now, in Pittsburgh, we’re losing out on around $2 million / yr. in tax revenue because of the way we charge taxes on billboards. Billboards aren’t taxed on their value, they are taxed as VACANT LAND. Some Lamar billboards are currently paying as little as $9/yr. in taxes. Yes you read that right, NINE DOLLARS. Meanwhile many of these billboards have a market worth/value of $1 million. But they’re only paying on the worth of the “vacant land” the billboard sits on. Lamar, which is the owner of the monopoly on billboards in Pittsburgh, is challenging Pittsburgh City Council’s plan to correct the taxation on billboards. What a shock – NOT. Lamar, a multi million $ corporation, wants to get out of paying its fair share... Recent articles on this issue: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/lamar-fights-pr... Lamar fights proposed Pittsburgh ad tax with billboards October 18, 2012 http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2012/10/18/lamar-advertising-targets-2-counci... Lamar Advertising Targets 2 Council Members In Billboards October 18, 2012 http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/2798539-74/lamar-harris-rudiak-signs-tax-... Lamar Advertising fights back against plan to tax billboards October 18, 2012 -- When people lead, leaders follow.