Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey's preliminary budget proposal features no tax increase
Mayor Ed Gainey's administration released its final preliminary budget proposal on Tuesday.
Amid concerns over the city's aging fleet of vehicles and drastic understaffing resulting in burnout and runaway overtime, the mayor did not ask for a tax increase. By law, the city had to release its preliminary budget proposal on Tuesday.
Pittsburgh City Councilman Bobby Wilson voiced concerns on Monday that the administration won't go far enough in addressing the city's budget crunch. On top of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling last week that Pittsburgh's so-called "jock tax" is unconstitutional, the city faces the end of federal COVID-19 relief funding and a drop in tax assessments on Downtown buildings.
Still, the city believes a tax increase is not necessary, saying the proposed budget "maintains investments in infrastructure including bridge maintenance and public safety."
The administration says it will not cut staff or positions, but approximately 50 unfilled positions will be eliminated. The budget also calls for increased funding to improve the city's fleet.
"This budget reflects our commitment to responsible stewardship – balancing the books while protecting the core services our residents rely on each day," Mayor Gainey said in a news release. "We've achieved this without layoffs, keeping the dedicated workers who serve our neighborhoods and keep our city moving forward."
Total revenue for 2026 is expected to be $680.5 million, according to the preliminary budget.
Now that it's been introduced, it's up to Pittsburgh City Council to decide whether it goes far enough to address the concerns or whether tougher decisions are needed.