Chris Maury

Pittsburgh Public Schools approves 2% property tax hike, adding ~$13/ year for the average homeowner.

On Dec. 17, the Pittsburgh Public Schools board voted 6 to 3 to raise property taxes 2% in its 2026 budget. The board president said it should cost the average homeowner about $13 more a year. A 4% increase was first proposed, but the finance chief said it would've violated state law.

County Council & School Board.

InformUp readers will soon get coverage of the Pittsburgh Public Schools board and Allegheny County Council. Each will have its own newsletter, included with existing city council subscriptions. Over the past year, the newsroom said, it shared over 2,500 reader survey responses with city council members. It also shared coverage of December's school board meeting, which approved a 2% property tax increase.

Cell phones, taking photos banned during school day at all Pittsburgh Public Schools starting this fall.

Starting this fall, Pittsburgh Public Schools students must turn in their phones at the start of each school day. The school board unanimously approved the policy on Dec. 17. Students also can't take, share, or view photos or videos of anyone on school property. Still, questions in an earlier draft about how to collect and monitor phones weren't addressed.

Checking in: How Are We Doing?

🏖️ City Council is on break for the next 3 weeks. Instead of our regular coverage we're doing a series of deep dives. This week: an update on InformUp! Have a request for a future deep dive? Drop it into this week’s survey.

Council defers acceptance of $1.5 million in federal funds for individual shelter spaces.

People in need could get private, individual shelter spaces instead of group settings under a city bill. It would accept $1.5 million from a federal housing program to build them with Auberle. For now, council has put a four-week hold on the bill. No reason was given for the hold.

Funds allocated for polygraph testing services, despite questions about utility.

The city's Office of Municipal Investigations is set to get polygraph services for the next three years. Council passed a bill paying $25,000 a year for them, with one member voting no. That member questioned polygraph accuracy and the psychological impact on employees tested at work. Another noted that polygraph results don't hold up in court.

Council hesitant to waive residency requirements to help close staffing gaps in the Parking Authority.

The Parking Authority has only 22 of the 44 enforcement officers it needs, and 33 of 53 garage attendants. Its executive director proposed lifting the city residency requirement as an immediate fix. Several council members, however, want to try higher wages and better recruiting first. Next week, the Authority plans to vote on lifting the requirement.

Reflecting on 2024.

No one the writer talks to knows about new trash can fines, red light cameras, or the city-funded ambulance service. After months of watching council, the writer says the real discussion happens in committee meetings. Budget hearings also turned up services like two free rodent traps a year. Informup hopes to help close the gap between council and the public.

Budget Planning Hearings Held for Every Major City Department.

Some city ambulances have broken down on the way to calls or with patients inside. In budget hearings with every major department, council heard that underinvestment in vehicles is driving up maintenance costs. The city's $665 million operating budget is $31 million smaller after tax shortfalls from appealed downtown assessments. Even so, it's balanced.

Smart Loading Zones Pilot to Be Extended with No End Date.

Smart loading zones let drivers park free for 15 minutes, with cameras enforcing charges after that. The pilot is now set to be extended with no end date. The zones aim to keep spots turning over, cut double parking, and improve traffic safety. One council member, however, raised concerns about sharing revenue with private entities.

Public Hearing Requiring City Council Approval for New Community Housing.

The zoning board has the final say on new group homes for people with disabilities in residential zones. A proposed bill would hand that approval to council. It covers homes for 8 or more residents, including people leaving hospital or institutional treatment. However, it's in tension with the mayor's proposed fair housing amendment, which aims to ease building housing.

Slag Remediation and Improved Plastics Recycling - City Council Weeks of November 3rd and 10th.

It has been a lighter couple of weeks on the Council as last week was the election and this week had Mayor Gainey's State of the City address to the Council. Of note:

Council Interested in Revisiting Community Banking Requirements for Banks Doing Business with the City.

Banks that hold the city's money are scored partly on how much they invest in the community. A bank needs an average score of at least 3 out of 5 to qualify. Council will let the mayor extend contracts with those banks. Still, members said they want to revisit the criteria and raise the bar on community investment.

Councilman Charland Called a Special Meeting to Discuss the Mayor's Agreement with (Now Retired) Police Chief Larry Scirotto.

The mayor let the police chief referee 40 NCAA basketball games on his personal time off, without telling council or the public. After the news broke, the chief retired early. This week, a council member called a special meeting with top city officials, but the chief didn't attend despite an invitation. Several council members said they now have no trust in the mayor's office.

Council Is Ready to Suspend the Program Allowing for the Purchase of Neighboring Lots for $200.

Council is suspending the Side-Yard program, which let residents buy city-owned lots for $200 if they didn't build on them. Over several meetings, members couldn't agree on its future, so it's on hold until they settle on an alternative. One question was whether only adjoining property owners should qualify. For now, residents can still buy city property, just without the discount or the building limit.

Public Hearing on Zoning Changes to Allow Very High-Density Housing on Negley Ave. in East Liberty.

A zoning change would allow 264 new housing units on Negley Avenue in East Liberty, north of Penn. At a council public hearing, housing affordability advocates backed the project. Nearby residents, however, raised serious concerns about the added cars. They worry the neighborhood's infrastructure can't support them.

Council Expressed Support for the City to Own Proposed Solar Farm in Summerset at Frick.

A canceled housing site could become a large solar installation, with the rest joining Frick Park. The Summerset at Frick plan was dropped over its roughly $40 million infrastructure cost. This week, council voted to support ending the tax program meant to fund it. Members also discussed who should own the solar array and whether it could power nearby homes.

Fair Housing zoning changes, Public EV charging - City Council Week of October 14th.

The Details.

About 1,000 traffic calming requests are waiting, and the city can only complete 10 a year. Now, council is considering spending $130,000 to unlock $1.3 million in federal funds. The grant would pay for three demonstration sites and a design guide for 10 high-need corridors. Projects are prioritized using crash data, nearby schools, and other factors.

Special Session on Trash Can Fines.

Resolving a trash can complaint in the city takes about three months, and violations end up in magistrate court. This week, a council member led a meeting on proposed fines meant to speed up clean-up. They're also meant to end reliance on the court. Meanwhile, the mayor's draft budget includes money to hire more inspectors.