"The number one priority for Allegheny County should be to alleviate the tax burden on its residents and businesses. If we are going to grow as a county and continue to be a leader in county government we must seek alternate sources of revenue rather than place the burden on the backs of the taxpayers. Due to downturns in the economy and loss of income, too many of our neighbors and friends are feeling financial crunch and have had enough when it comes to taxes."

Matt’s voting record:

• Matt voted against the drink tax and car rental tax because it was a direct tax on the people of Allegheny County.

• Matt introduced proposals and motions to reduce the tax burden on the people of Allegheny County.

• Matt wants the State to ante up the $40 million dollars a year that it takes to fund our court systems. The Supreme Court directed the state to do so and we still haven’t gotten our money. Matt estimates that since this directive came down from the Supreme Court the state now owes us an excess of $400 million dollars. All of these monies can be used to alleviate the tax burden on our citizenry and businesses.

• Matt would like to eliminate the tunnel under the river and use the funds to expand mass transit to enhance transit service to the residents of Allegheny County and reduce the tax burden.

• Matt wants to capitalize on the potential revenues from the Marcellus Shale Shale (a natural gas resource) to ease tax burdens on the people.

• Matt wants to purify the air that our people breathe and the water that our people drink.

• Matt wants to make county government more cost effective, and streamline its structure, such as eliminating the use of county cars for private use, consolidating services (not municipalities), and eliminating wasteful spending by mass transit.

• Matt wants to create better paying jobs so that families can improve their standard of living.