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Allegheny County Council

November ballot questions could expand county lawmakers’ budget and benefits.

Written by Amy Whipple

Allegheny County Council members are looking to ask voters to allow them to draw county pensions and add offices and staff in each of the 15 council districts.

At its June 9 meeting, the committee voted to move forward with putting two referendums on the Nov. ballot that would amend the county’s Home Rule Charter.

After a 2023 referendum shifted council members from a per-meeting stipend to a yearly salary, council members, like other county employees, had to make mandatory contributions to the pension fund. However, council members do not have access to a pension.

The proposed amendment would allow members to receive a pension as well as health and life insurance. It would also provide for offices in each of the council’s 15 districts and county-funded staff for each of those offices.

The other referendum is how the county would pay for the changes.

The current charter restricts council’s annual operating budget to 0.4% of the county’s locally levied tax revenues. Council, however, is not guaranteed the maximum allotment. The proposed amendment would lift the cap entirely, but it would not automatically increase future appropriations nor guarantee a minimum percentage.

Council received $1,177,195 in the 2026 budget. Of that, $172,950 accounts for council members’ salaries, who are all considered part-time employees.

A final vote for both proposed referendums is scheduled for council’s general meeting on June 23.

Connections to this story

Topics:
City Budget & FiscalGovernment & Accountability
Governments:
Allegheny County Council
Public meetings:
Allegheny County Council Regular Meeting · June 9, 2026
Sources:
Ordinance 13953-26 — directing that a referendum question regarding the repeal of Article III, §7(c) of the Home Rule Charter of Allegheny…Ordinance 13952-26 — directing that a referendum question regarding the repeal of Article III, §7(f) of the Home Rule Charter of Allegheny…

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