Pittsburgh's yearly budget fights

Proposed bills would offer council budget training and put quarterly finance sessions into law.

Pittsburgh City Council would like to put an end to receiving financial surprises.

City closes North Side space that provided drop-in support for unhoused residents.

An expired lease is uprooting the Reaching Out on the Streets (ROOTS) drop-in location on the North Side.

City renews tools that let residents tinker with the budget.

The city’s budget website, in which residents can set their own priorities and see how they are reflected in the city budget, may survive the current budget crisis.

University of Pittsburgh joins push to fund city projects with $5M grant.

The University of Pittsburgh has joined the growing list of large nonprofits making payments in lieu of taxes to the city.

Mayor O'Connor wants to add $28 million in 2026 spending.

Three months into his term as mayor, Corey O’Connor wants to rewrite the city’s 2026 budget.

Bond sales will pay for local infrastructure improvements.

Despite holding $645 million in debt, the city is looking at issuing another $56 million worth of bonds.

City council passes a budget that is $15 million more than the mayor’s.

After over 40 hours of public meetings, hearings, discussions, and seemingly endless votes, council passed the 2026 budget.

City property taxes slated to go up 20%.

Pittsburgh homeowners may soon see a 20% increase on their property tax bill.

Stop the Violence money may be used for city trucks.

A proposed reduction in this year's Stop the Violence funding had community members speaking out for the program.

City plans to rebuild salt storage next to Saw Mill Run.

The Department of Public Works (DPW) has asked for money to construct a new salt storage building.

City fleet maintenance is another hole in the budget.

Pittsburgh has received more surprise bills.

There may be less of an opportunity to build affordable housing.

As the city faces a $30 million budget deficit, affordable housing may be one area that takes a hit.

Health and Safety workers reach out where the police can’t.

As the city tries to solve its fleet crisis, the Office of Community Health and Safety (OCHS) solved its own.

Emergency Medical Services looks to expand its training academy.

Emergency medical services (EMS) chief Amera Gilchrist said the city could use an in-house paramedic academy.

From horses to drones, city police use all available tools.

City police are flying into 2026 with nine new drones, and reaching back to the first days of policing with additional mounted officers.

Fire budget will not cover free smoke detector program.

While the image of city firefighters is of them rescuing residents from raging infernos, Fire Chief Darryl Jones said during a Nov. 20 budget meeting the real work is saving lives before the trucks…

Pittsburgh Water bills sink budget.

During the dry talk about budgets, city council learned that Pittsburgh is drowning in unpaid water bills.

DPW officials say they need more money for equipment, capital improvements.

The Department of Public Works (DPW) faces a challenging 2026.

Budget Planning Hearings Held for Every Major City Department.