2026 Budget Hearing for Courts, Sheriff, and Treasurer - November 13, 2025
2026 Budget Hearing for Courts, Sheriff, and Treasurer - November 13, 2025
The Allegheny County Council held a public hearing on the 2026 operating and capital budgets, hearing presentations from the Fifth Judicial District (Courts), the Sheriff's Office, and the Treasurer's Office. Council members asked questions and expressed positions on each department's budget requests, operations, and challenges.
Courts (Fifth Judicial District)
- President Judge (unidentified) presented an overview of the court system: 43 Court of Common Pleas judges, 46 magisterial district judges, and over 1,100 employees. Key statistics: Civil division resolved 19,000 cases; criminal filings increased by 700 to 9,503; probation caseload of 14,390 individuals served by 139 officers; 92.62% of support cases have orders with an 80% collection rate (leading Allegheny County to be ranked #1 urban jurisdiction nationally, earning $4 million in federal incentive money); $78 million collected in child/spousal support; 502 children adjudicated dependent; 138 adoptions; 1,071 active youth on juvenile probation; 640 juveniles on electronic monitoring (133 absconded). A critical concern: only 12 juvenile detention beds at Shuman Center (of 60 needed), leaving 14 youth housed out-of-county and 19 minors in the adult jail. The court requested an 8% budget increase but received 2.5% ($99.8 million total). Councilman Grizzbeck noted the $5.5 million shortfall would largely go to personnel and court-appointed counsel. President Judge outlined efforts to reduce jail population: same-day detainer hearings, a second motions judge, a new competency court, a mobile competency unit (cutting the waiting list for Torrens by half), and pre-arraignment diversion. Councilwoman Hallum expressed strong support for these initiatives and asked about judicial education on pretrial release; the judge agreed to consider a class. Councilwoman Filialgi highlighted the need to prioritize Shuman reopening and suggested increasing expungement opportunities. Councilman Walton praised the court's work and requested a meeting to connect resources for second chances.
Sheriff's Office
- Sheriff Krause presented a request for a $2 million increase (to $25.05 million, a 3.4% rise) to fund additional deputies and security upgrades for court facilities. The office expects to stay under budget in 2025 using capital grants. Council members praised the Sheriff's Office for efficiency, canine unit, concealed carry permit satellite events, and professionalism. Councilman Grizzbeck asked about the original request ($26 million) and the impact of the shortfall; the Sheriff stated the full request would allow hiring 8 additional deputies for security. Councilwoman Hallum asked what a blank check would fund; the Sheriff answered "training." Councilman Walton and others commended Chief Deputy Ricky Manning and Public Information Officer Mike Manco.
Treasurer's Office
- Treasurer Eric Kiroki Brussels presented a 2026 budget request that is 2% lower than 2025 (about $9 million, down $50,000 from request). Savings include: $100,000 from bank fees, $200,000 from reduced contracted services, $400,000 from electronic payments, and $80,000 from a new print vendor for property tax bills. The office has cross-trained staff, reduced paper pay stubs (only 25% remain), and increased investment effectiveness (from 57% to near market rate). The volunteer fire service tax credit program issued $600,000 in rebates to 1,500 approved applicants across 143 stations. Council members raised several concerns: Councilman Bada and Councilwoman Filialgi asked for details on $424,000 in consultant and contracted services; the Treasurer promised to provide a breakdown. Council President Katino questioned the $60,000 contract with Buchanan Ingersoll for government relations, suggesting the county's own resources could be used; the Treasurer argued it provided valuable connections for pension work. Councilwoman Filialgi pressed for assurance that 2026 property tax bills would be mailed on time (by January 31); the Treasurer explained past delays due to software and vendor issues and expressed confidence in new processes. Council President Katino noted errors in dog licenses and asked about union status of previous print vendors; the Treasurer said he would follow up. Councilwoman Hallum asked about uncollected revenue; the Treasurer highlighted plans to bid out delinquent tax collection (Jordan Tax contract ending), increase hotel tax audits, and improve short-term rental registration.
Key Outcomes
- No votes were taken; the hearing was for information gathering. Council members will consider the budget proposals in upcoming sessions. Specific follow-ups were promised on contracted services details, dog license errors, print vendor union status, and juvenile detention progress. Councilman Walton will meet with the President Judge to discuss second-chance employment. Councilman Grizzbeck requested a reminder to fire chiefs about the volunteer tax credit deadline.
Meeting Transcript
I think L there. I walked down on the flight. Did you go? Did you see every single one I walked in? I brought it in. Oh, exactly. I just have to read so I live by that one. Always. Michelle, did you have a clear one? Chris, aren't you coming up here? He was trying to get closer to that thinking it was near it. Thanks, God. What? Thank you. I sure am. Hi, Mr. Walden. I'm good. How are you? Good evening. Tonight we conclude the public hearing portion of our budget process for the two thousand twenty-six operating in capital budgets. We'll hear from the courts, sheriff and the treasurer. When we get to the QA portion, I like the members to please only ask a few questions at a time. Hello, Your Honor. How are you? What a pronunciation. I was worried about that. Thank you all. Uh members. The members of County Council who are here, maybe there's some more on the television, uh, for your time tonight and for your continued support of the court. We sincerely appreciate it. I want to introduce Hello. Hello. Now it is. I'm not talking close enough to it. I'd like to introduce the members of court administration who are here with me today. Chris Connors, District Court Administrator, Joe Astori, Deputy Court Administrator, Director of Government Affairs and Media Relations. We also have behind me Michelle Paulus, our fiscal manager, Janice Dean, Deputy Court Administrator, Criminal Division, Russ Carlino, Deputy Court Administrator, Juvenile Family Division, and Trisha Sorg, Deputy Court Administrator, Adult Family Division. Now I've been instructed by Mr. Palmasina not to go over every single page in my handout, but I do want to just give you an overview of our operations so that you can appreciate and understand our budgetary needs. The fifth judicial district is composed of the Court of Comma Pleas and all the magisterial district judges. We have 43 Court of Common Pleas judges. We have eight new ones starting in 26, although one was appointed, so she's been there for a few months. We have 46 magisterial district judges spread throughout the county, and we also have Pittsburgh Municipal Court, which is the venue for most city cases. The court has over 1,100 employees. The Court of Common Pleas has four divisions. Each division has an administrative judge and an administrator to oversee the operations of the division. And now I'm in my handouts, but I'm gonna I I will not bore you with every page. The first uh division is civil, Judge Alan Hertzberg is the administrative judge. Civil division hears hundreds upon hundreds of different types of civil actions.
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