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Pittsburgh City Council

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

Written by Amy Whipple

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

The mayor’s 2026 operating budget, currently under council review, includes $57.4 million for DPW, the $6.3 million increase over 2025 includes money for the NFL Draft in April.

During DPW’s Nov. 19 budget meeting with council, Director Chris Hornstein once again expressed the difficulty of servicing the city without appropriate equipment.

DPW leadership pointed to the department successes of 2025. Assistant director Chip Gaul reported 22 completed projects, including reconstructing Homewood Park, replacing the Medic Four station and overhauling Oliver Bath House.

Hornstein made an example of the bath house’s $8.7 million price tag. “We have such a massive investment required just to make that building safe for public use because of deferred maintenance,” he said. The city has said the facility should reopen this fall, though no date has been announced for reopening. Completion was originally slated for 2024.

Gaul said DPW needs a little over $4.5 million for facility-based deferred maintenance projects. These include replacing roofs and/or HVACs in critical or failing condition on/in several recreation facilities and fire stations as well as EMS headquarters. There is no money in the proposed capital budget for these repairs.

According to Gaul, the department has the contracts and the staffing to move forward if they can get the money. “We’re forced to wait until something fails,” he said.

Council must approve the budgets by the end of the year.

Connections to this story

Topics:
City Budget & FiscalInfrastructure
Governments:
Pittsburgh City Council
Public meetings:
City Council · November 18, 2025

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