Pittsburgh City Council Budget Hearing and Line-Item Vote on 2026 Operating Budget - April 8, 2026

The Committee on Finance and Law, chaired by Councilperson Erica Strasberger, held a hearing on April 8, 2026, at 1:30 PM in Council Chambers to conduct a line-item vote on the amended 2026 Operating Budget. The meeting reviewed 63 administrative operating amendments and 12 trust fund amendments, as well as two council-sponsored amendments. The preliminary votes serve as a temperature check ahead of a final vote the following week.

Discussion Items

Council Amendments (Sponsored by Councilperson Warwick)

• Two amendments sought to preserve vehicle funding for the Bureau of Fire and Department of Public Works by reallocating $2 million per year from the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) vehicle budget and decreasing funding from other administrative amendments (bridge maintenance, roof/boiler replacements, VIBA trust fund, retiree health care, judgments, outside counsel, and city cuts).
• Councilperson Warwick argued the city is in a "dire vehicle shortage," paying $400,000 per month in repairs, with 37 of 95 plow-capable trucks out of service during a severe winter storm and 11 of 40 refuse trucks down. She stated the city recently increased property taxes by 20% to fund a $20 million vehicle investment, and that removing the EMS vehicle funding undermines that commitment.
• Acting OMB Director Rhea Price responded that a $10 million UPMC donation for ambulances made the EMS reallocation safe, and that the administration intended to use the freed funds for other critical needs. Intent to use pay-go funding for vehicles in 2028-2030 was stated but not formally binding.
• Councilpersons Wilson and Coghill expressed support for the administration's approach, citing the need to address a $20-40 million shortfall and trusting that future years would restore fleet funding. Councilperson Warwick countered that without dedicated funding, the fleet crisis would persist.
• Preliminary vote: Motion to approve council amendments 1 and 2 failed (majority nay).

Administration Operating Amendments (Nos. 1–63)

• The committee proceeded to vote on each of 63 administration amendments. Notable discussions included:
  • Amendment 2 (Red light revenue): Decreased charges for services by $1.87 million due to delayed automated red-light enforcement program. Discussion included privacy concerns and planned council briefing.
  • Amendment 10 (Snow removal costs): Increased funding by $1.71 million for contracted snow removal during the February 2026 snow event. Councilperson Gross raised questions about the timing of invoice payments and fund sources; it was clarified that the liquid fuels trust fund would be reimbursed.
  • Amendment 20 (EMS vehicle funding decrease): Reduced EMS vehicle funding by $1.96 million in 2026. Councilperson Warwick voted no, arguing the money should be redirected to other vehicle needs.
  • Amendment 24 (VIBA trust fund restoration): Added $3.5 million to begin restoring the Voluntary Employment Benefits Association trust fund drawn down in 2025. Councilpersons Gross and Coghill expressed surprise over the undisclosed drawdown.
  • Amendment 25 (Retiree health care): Increased funding by $6 million for the OPEB trust fund, which had been drawn down.
  • Amendment 30 (Remove 311 call center representative): Councilperson Warwick supported, suggesting more automation could be considered.
  • Amendment 34 (City cuts program restoration): $300,000 added. Councilperson Warwick and Coghill suggested adding an income requirement or finding foundation funding; still supported for this year.
  • Amendment 36 (Love Your Block): $20,000 restored; discussion on the program's impact and limited usage.
  • Amendment 44 (Non-target fleet repairs): $2 million increase for out-of-contract vehicle repairs. Councilperson Warwick linked this to the ongoing fleet crisis.
  • Amendment 49 (Reduce Parks grants line): $500,000 decrease from a grants account covering food justice and senior programs. Councilpersons Gross and Warwick expressed concern, citing strong public support for food justice (the fund had provided 300,000 pounds of food). They abstained; amendment passed.
  • Amendment 51 (Move assistant director to Stop the Violence Trust Fund): Discussion of administrative cost cap; Council President Labelle confirmed the fund was under the 50% cap.
  • Amendment 62 (Pay-go funding for vehicles): Added $2 million per year for 2028-2030. Councilperson Warwick voted no, noting the lack of explicit earmark for vehicles.
  • Amendment 63 (Utilize fund balance): Used $6.51 million from the fund balance to balance the budget. Councilperson Gross asked about conservatism; OMB noted revenue may be higher than estimated (e.g., payroll prep tax). Passed.

Trust Fund Amendments (Nos. 1–12)

• Amendments to special revenue funds (Stop the Violence, Parks Tax, Three Taxing Bodies, etc.) were considered.
• Trust Fund Amendments 1 and 2 (Remove program coordinator and rec leader from Stop the Violence): Councilperson Warwick urged abstentions to preserve after-school pilot programming with Pittsburgh Public Schools. The preliminary vote resulted in majority abstentions, effectively failing.
• Trust Fund Amendment 5 (Update salaries across trust funds): A typo in the yellow packet was corrected on the floor (three taxing bodies figure was reduced from ~$398,000 to $9,259). Amendment passed after correction.
• All other trust fund amendments passed.

Key Outcomes

• Council amendments 1 and 2 failed preliminary vote (majority nay). They will be reconsidered the following week.
• Administration operating amendments 1–63 all received affirmative preliminary recommendations, with the following exceptions: Amendment 20 had one no vote (Warwick); Amendment 49 had two abstentions (Gross, Warwick); Amendment 62 had one no (Warwick). All others passed without recorded opposition.
• Trust Fund amendments 1 and 2 failed preliminary vote (majority abstain). The remaining trust fund amendments (3–12) passed.
• Final votes are scheduled for the week of April 13, 2026, after a public hearing on the budget reopening.