PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Property owners on the South Side could soon be hit with a new fee.

According to our news partners at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the South Side Planning Forum voted in favor of a neighborhood improvement tax during a meeting Tuesday night.

However, the tax still needs to get approval from Pittsburgh City Council.

KDKA’s Heather Abraham reports:

The new tax would bring in about $5 million over five years and would affect more than 3,000 property owners in the South Side — both business and residential.

Because of all the bars and restaurants concentrated along Carson Street, there have been ongoing concerns about clean up and safety.

Supporters say the Neighborhood Improvement District will provide quality of life services to the South Side, including cleaning up streets and sidewalks and improving parking and security among other things.

But opponents see it as another tax burden.

“We have to continue to fight, continue to educate, and you know, hopefully, get the law turned at the state level,” said Daniel Murrer, who is opposed to NID tax. “It could be coming to a neighborhood near you soon if it succeeds here on the South Side.”

While the neighborhood improvement district could receive donations, grants and other funding, it would be funded through a tax on commercial and residential property owners.

To defeat the tax, 40 percent of the property owners would have to sign a petition.

KDKA’s Kym Gable reports:

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