Pittsburgh City Council will vote on Sunday on whether to raise property taxes by up to 30% as officials finalize a 2026 budget after months of debate.
Council members during a public hearing Saturday indicated they had not yet reached a consensus 24 hours before their final vote on the budget was scheduled.
Mayor Ed Gainey, in late September, unveiled a spending plan that did not raise taxes, lay off workers, or cut services. But council members, their budget director and the controller unanimously agreed the mayor’s budget also failed to properly account for all of the city’s expenses.
Critics said it lowballed costs by at least $20 million, falling short on allocations for public safety overtime, utilities and investments to an aging vehicle fleet.
Council members are exploring a litany of solutions. Several members have indicated whatever they approve Sunday will likely involve a combination of multiple approaches, including spending cuts and an increase to property tax rates.
The city in recent years has seen its revenues dip, fueled largely by the lack of a countywide property reassessment and declining values in the Downtown commercial real estate base. Federal covid-19 relief money is mostly exhausted. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court barred the city from collecting the facility usage fee, a tax on out-of-town professional athletes and performers.
City Council on Sunday will be tasked with approving a budget that is balanced, despite financial woes. At least five of nine members must agree on a spending plan.
They have two meetings planned for Sunday. The first is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. The second, expected to begin at 2 p.m., will see council taking a final vote on the budget.
Members of the public weighed in during a public hearing Saturday and can provide additional input at the start of Sunday’s meetings.
Once City Council approves a budget, it is sent to the mayor for his approval. If Gainey vetoes the budget, council must take another vote to override his veto. A meeting has been scheduled for 11 p.m. on New Year’s Eve to take that vote, if needed.
This story will be updated.