Allegheny County Council Holds Public Hearing on 2025 Budget on October 30, 2024

This was the final public hearing on Allegheny County's proposed 2025 budget, which includes a 2.2-mill property tax increase (a 46.5% increase in the county property tax rate) and a $167 million revenue projection. The evening featured extensive public testimony both for and against the budget, followed by a detailed presentation from County Manager and Budget Director and a question-and-answer session with council members.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jeremy Schaeffer (residential property owner, lifelong resident): Urged council not to raise property taxes, citing a loss of 400,000 people in Allegheny County during his lifetime and arguing that high taxes drive businesses and residents away.
• Byron Zidell (Pittsburgh Southside resident): Opposed the tax increase and critiqued specific budget items, including $900,000 for out-of-county travel, 112 line items for miscellaneous services, $1 million for equity inclusion, and excessive overtime (e.g., two correctional officers earning $74,000 overtime on $81,000 salary). He highlighted $891 million bond debt and $74 million annual debt service.
• Unnamed speaker (appeared after Byron Zidell): Presented a progressive populist alternative, proposing new revenue sources (e.g., taxes on alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, sugary drinks, gig economy, luxury real estate transactions) and suggested countywide reassessment, shutting down the jail and redeveloping it, and building 10,000 affordable homes.
• Margaret Ponson (Carrick resident, renter): Shared her personal success story with rental assistance through RentHelp Pittsburgh and urged support for the budget, emphasizing that 34% of county residents rent and that most are one crisis away from housing instability.
• Mara Jacob (Pittsburgh Foundation): Voiced strong support for the $14 million proposed for eviction prevention, noting that landlords have filed over 14,000 eviction petitions since October 2023, the highest in the state, and that an average of $208 in back rent separates tenants from eviction.
• Robert Perkins (defense attorney): Supported increased funding for the Public Defender's office, noting that per capita spending on public defense in Allegheny County was tied with Mississippi (dead last nationally) in 2019, and that investing in public defense saves taxpayer money by reducing incarceration.
• Joe Auddy (defense attorney, former public defender): Criticized the District Attorney's office for pitting its budget against the Public Defender's, arguing the PD's office handles more cases than acknowledged and that clients are people, not numbers.
• Joshua Malloy (Pittsburgh United): Endorsed the budget, stating the tax increase is long overdue and less than neighboring municipalities, and that it will protect core services like 911, parks, roads, bridges, and elections.
• Julia (Friendship resident, RentHelp Pittsburgh staff): Supported eviction prevention funding, noting median rent increased nearly 100% since 2012 (from $745 to $1,484) and that the $14 million will assist 4,000 households.
• Alison (Shaler Township resident, homeowner): Urged support for the budget as a homeowner willing to pay more to help renters, emphasizing 34% of county residents rent and that property tax increase was last in 2012.
• Jennifer Rafinon Kennedy (Point Breeze resident): Expressed support for investments in workforce, affordable housing, child care, transit, and clean environment, stating the budget is a down payment on an Allegheny County that works for all.
• Tanisha Long (District 12 resident): Focused on the Public Defender's office, asserting that underfunding disproportionately affects people of color and that overincarceration creates public safety risks. She contrasted spending on the DA's office vs. PD's office.
• Correctional officer (anonymous): Described a staffing crisis at the jail, noting 36 of 58 recruits hired since September 2023 have left, officers work 16-hour days, and the suicide rate is seven times the national average. Asked council to consider double-time pay for excessive overtime.
• Sadie Stirner Restivo (executive director, Pittsburgh Action Against Rape): Supported the budget to sustain services for over 3,000 sexual violence survivors annually, warning that cuts would leave vulnerable individuals without support.
• Marid (Bloomfield renter, RentHelp Pittsburgh staff): Supported the budget and proposed $20 million for eviction prevention (instead of $14 million) to serve nearly 7,000 households, noting that homeowners in low-resource areas can absorb the tax increase and that some neighborhoods may see tax decreases.
• Additional speakers (including Hailey Pasion, a mother of six, Evi from Lawyer for a Day program, Julia Menti from Climate Action Plan Justice Coalition, Emily Neff from Trying Together, and others) all voiced support for the budget, with emphasis on eviction prevention, child care, lead abatement, climate action, and housing stability.

Discussion Items

• Administration's Presentation: County Manager and Budget Director Cox presented the budget, emphasizing a $148 million projected deficit without action, the need for a 2.2-mill increase to avoid catastrophic cuts, and the structural deficit caused by ending federal pandemic funds, rising health care costs, and increased tax refunds from commercial property appeals. They highlighted that a one-mill increase would require $250 million in cuts, including deep reductions to Human Services, Kane, and the jail.
• Councilmember Questions and Comments:
  • Councilmember Palmasina asked about waste in the budget; the county manager responded that the county has already cut 10% of headcount since 2019 and that line-by-line cuts cannot address the $148 million deficit.
  • Councilmember Hallum asked about steps taken before proposing the tax increase; the administration explained that they assessed alternatives and decided protecting services was the priority.
  • Councilmember Filiaggi questioned unexpected increases in contracted nursing staff at Kane and the jail, and asked about partnerships with CCAC for nursing interns. The administration promised a follow-up memo.
  • Councilmember Paul Mary criticized the budget rollout as a "46% increase" rather than a 2.2-mill increase, calling the optics terrible and predicting difficulty securing 10 votes.
  • Councilmember Walton indicated her support is conditional on addressing her priorities.
  • Councilmember Chapkins asked about the impact on fixed-income residents; administration promised to respond.
  • Councilmember Grisbek asked about fund balance restoration and large nonprofits; administration deferred on the latter.
  • Councilmember Klein requested quarterly financial reports going forward; administration agreed and noted reports are now posted online.
  • Councilmember President Katina questioned the timing of awareness of the deficit, loss of federal inmate revenue, and the need for a press secretary position.

Key Outcomes

• No vote was taken; this was a public hearing to gather input.
• The administration committed to providing follow-up memos to council by the close of business on Friday, November 1, 2024, addressing specific questions.
• The next step is a scheduled meeting with council leadership and individual council member meetings to discuss the budget in depth.
• The council must vote on the final budget by December 2024.
• The administration emphasized that a 2.2-mill increase is necessary for a five-year balanced budget and to avoid severe service cuts and damage to the county's credit rating.