Pittsburg, PA
Proposed Allegheny County property tax increase opposed by some councilmembers
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Homeowners flooded Allegheny County Council offices with calls on Wednesday, complaining about a plan for a major property tax hike. Some councilmembers say they just can’t support an increase as large as the county executive wants.
Since the budget announcement Tuesday, county councilmembers say they have gotten an earful from their constituents and say they’ve heard enough: the 46% property tax increase is dead on arrival.
Citing flat revenues, an end to federal COVID aid and rising costs, Innamorato dropped a bomb.
“So, today we are asking for a 2.2 mill increase,” she said.
Since then, councilmembers have heard howls from their constituents about an unprecedented 46 percent property tax increase.
“This is just way outside the bounds of what we could potentially take back to the taxpayers,” said Republican Sam DeMarco.
Counting heads, Council President Pat Catena says there are already enough votes to kill the increase.
“I know Councilmember Futules is against it, I know Councilman Palmosina is against it,” Catena said.
“We have to go back to the drawing board and see where cuts can be made. It’s that simple,” he added.
Innamorato said the hike is needed to meet costs and stave off disaster. The surplus is being deleted and costs are rising, especially for health care at the Kane hospitals and the county jail, where total costs have risen more than $20 million.
“And if we keep on the pace we’re on now, we could completely deplete our reserves in two years, which would be catastrophic for our bond rating and leave us in a precarious situation in the case of an emergency,” Innamorato said.
But councilmembers say she still wants to fulfill a progressive agenda with spending on things like child care, rental assistance, climate change initiatives and housing for those experiencing homelessness. They want her to sharpen her pencil to reduce some of those costs, noting that one of her first actions in office was to raise the wages of county employees to a minimum of $18 an hour.
“Last night we saw where that money is going to come from. She intends to take it from the taxpayers,” DeMarco said.
Controller Corey O’Connor says the administration needs to do more to produce other revenue by fostering economic development.
“The frustrating part for all of us should be is there’s no vision for growth, development, bringing in jobs. Because all of that, you’re not going to tax your way out of decline,” O’Connor said.
Over the next few weeks, councilmembers say they’ll be going over this budget with a fine-tooth comb, making all the necessary cuts to bring this tax increase down to size.
One of Pittsburgh’s biggest goals before hosting the NFL Draft was to modernize Market Square. It is just one of the spaces in the downtown area that is being transformed for the massive event.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
Posted
2026 NFL Draft Pittsburgh regional transportation plan unveiled
With the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh quickly approaching, city officials and Pittsburgh Regional Transit unveiled its regional transportion plan.
Extensive road closures will be in place around Point State Park and Acrisure Stadium from April 22-25 as the 2026 NFL Draft brings three days of excitement and football fans into the city of Pittsburgh.
During NFL Draft events, the city’s Downtown and North Shore areas will convert to a walkable “Draft Campus,” with motorized traffic limited to Pittsburgh Regional Transit vehicles, the city’s light rail system (the “T”) and other official providers.
Therefore, many streets into and around the “Draft Campus” are closed to vehicle traffic starting April 22. Traffic patterns will be adjusted to allow Pirates fans to access PNC Park for baseball games held during the road closures, according to NFLDraftPittsburgh.com.
In addition to these streets, the Interstate 279 and Interstate 579 High Occupancy Vehicle lanes into the city are closed to vehicle traffic all week; only authorized bus traffic and emergency vehicles will be permitted to use those lanes.
People planning to use the Beaver County Transit Authority bus to reach downtown Pittsburgh for the NFL Draft events can find more information about the authority’s bus service plans on the BCTA website.
Here is the list of road closures in place from April 22-25, according to NFLDraftPittsburgh.com, which has a complete guide to getting into and around the city during NFL Draft events.
- Art Rooney Avenue
- West General Robinson Street to Tony Dorsett Drive
- Scotland Avenue
- Casino Drive, from Sproat Way
- North Shore Drive, from Chuck Noll Way
- Reedsdale Street to Tony Dorsett Drive
- Chuck Noll Way
- Tony Dorsett Drive
- Sproat Way
- Allegheny Avenue from Ridge Avenue
- North Shore Drive, from Chuck Noll Way to Mazeroski Way
- Mazeroski Way
- West General Robinson Street
- Lacock Street, from Federal Street
- Federal Street, from Lacock Street
- Merchant Street
- I-279 southbound exit 1B ramp
- I-279 northbound exit 1B ramp
- Route 65 southbound ramp to Fort Duquesne
- Route 65 northbound ramp from Fort Duquesne Bridge
- T1 ramp from Reedsdale Street and Ridge Avenue
- Sixth Street Bridge, aka the Roberto Clemente Bridge
- Seventh Street Bridge, aka the Andy Warhol Bridge
- Isabella Street
- Sixth Street
- Fort Pitt on ramp, from 10th Street Bypass and Fort Duquesne Boulevard
- Commonwealth Place
- Liberty Avenue extension
- Penn Avenue, from Stanwix Street to 9th Street
- Liberty Avenue/PPG Paints Arena exit off the Fort Pitt Bridge
- Smithfield Street Bridge
Pennsylvania’s 511PA.com online transportation website will feature a special NFL webpage providing real-time traffic information in and around the city during the NFL Draft.
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