PITTSBURGH -- Dozens of restaurant and bar owners marched to a meeting with picket signs in hand on Tuesday to protest a proposed liquor tax.

The tax would help fund the Port Authority's accessibility programs which help people that cannot drive, but restaurant owners said the city should find another source for the money.

They said taxing drinks would mean that patrons would take their business to other counties -- hurting the workers.

"I would say health insurance for our employees would be one of the first things to go," said Kevin Joyce, of the Carlton Restaurant. "We don't think our employees should lose their health insurance so the Port Authority can have a premium package for their employees."

Those who rely on the city to get around said the drink tax is reasonable.

"You're not going to pay a lot more, 50 cents, on a $5 drink," said Jon Robison, of Oakland. "If you want to save money, buy a bottle and bring it home."

Joyce, however, said that the tax is too much, especially if the city claims it's only for the Port Authority.

"The cost of mass transit is only going up by 5 percent next year, which is $1.25 million. This tax will collect between $35 million and $50 million," said Joyce. "This is a major tax increase on the citizens of Allegheny County and it's not really about transit, it's about the fact that they have a structural deficit problem."

Some on the county council said they agree that the Port Authority money can be found elsewhere.

"We're not talking about not having public transit in Allegheny County, we need to get the port authority in line," said Jan Rea, of the county council. "The county needs to get in line, and we need to cut what we are doing because we're spending more than we're bringing in."

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