Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl made the rounds in Harrisburg on Monday, telling lawmakers the financially troubled city needs additional tax revenues to shore up its pension fund.

Lawmakers said they listened with open minds but made no promises.

Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Squirrel Hill, said lawmakers in a meeting he attended were "very sympathetic" but want any new taxes to be coupled with possible privatization of city services and other cost-cutting moves by the city.

Rep. Mike Turzai, R-Bradford Woods, agreed that new taxes and cost-cutting would have to be "hand-in-hand."

Mr. Ravenstahl had a series of meetings with lawmakers from the county and city delegations, the House and Senate leadership and Gov. Ed. Rendell.

The mayor has proposed a tax on sugary drinks, increasing the EMS tax on people who work in the city and extending the payroll-preparation tax to nonprofit groups. Mr. Frankel said none of those options was ruled out.

Mr. Ravenstahl also had a brief meeting with Rep. Dwight Evans, D-Philadelphia, Appropriations Committee chairman. Mr. Evans indicated he will support measures endorsed by Pittsburgh-area lawmakers, said his spokeswoman, Johnna Pro.

In a statement, Mr. Ravenstahl called the meetings "positive and productive" and said he was "thankful to the leaders of all four caucuses for their interest in participating in meaningful dialogue."

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