PITTSBURGH -- Opposition is building to Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's proposal to tax local college students.

Ravenstahl has already said he has enough votes on the City Council to pass the proposed one percent tax on college tuition.

On Friday, opponents packed a post-agenda council meeting. They are looking for ways to convince colleges and universities to voluntarily pay the tax themselves, sparing students the extra cost.

"Pittsburgh is trying to attract young people and retain young people. And this will only drive them away," said Austin Davis, who attends the University of Pittsburgh.

"We pay tons of money already to our university and we have to be creative to think of other ways to pay for this tax," said another student, Emily Kolek.

An e-mail drive is already under way, trying to change some minds.

Ravenstahl stood with council members Jim Motznik, Ricky Burgess, Tonya Payne, Darlene Harris and Theresa Smith at a news conference on Thursday morning and said an annual 1 percent tax on students' tuition can be avoided if the city's post-secondary schools make payments to the city each year in lieu of taxes.

A public hearing on the proposed tax is set for Monday, Nov. 30.

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