Report documents local schools’ contributions to city and region
Pitt and the nine other colleges and universities that comprise the Pittsburgh Council on Higher Education (PCHE) generated an overall economic impact of $8.99 billion and supported more than 70,000 jobs in the City of Pittsburgh in fiscal year 2012-13, according to a report prepared in collaboration with Fourth Economy, a national economic development consulting firm.
This overall economic impact is the output generated by the institutions’ direct expenditures such as operations, construction projects, student and visitor spending, research, federal financial aid and in-kind contributions.
The report points out that while PCHE members are largely exempt from paying property taxes, they do pay taxes on properties that are not used in direct support of their institution’s mission. Property taxes paid in FY2012-13 totaled more than $1 million. In addition, PCHE members collectively paid $18.9 million in employee wage tax and $4.1 million in parking tax to the city, placing them among the city’s largest payers of wage and parking taxes.
PCHE members also dedicate resources to supporting the launch of new businesses and organizations within the City of Pittsburgh. Since 2005, PCHE members have launched 163 startup businesses, an average of 18 per year.
The report also cites the fact that PCHE institutions contribute $37.3 million annually in community services and an additional $26.3 million in direct public safety services and support.
In addition to Pitt, PCHE members are Carlow, Carnegie Mellon, Chatham, Community College of Allegheny County, Duquesne, La Roche, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Point Park and Robert Morris.