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WHEREAS, Article 5 of the Pittsburgh Home Rule Charter governs the City’s Budget and Fiscal Matters; and,
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WHEREAS, Home Rule Charter Article 5, Section 502 requires the City to adopt an annual balanced operating budget; Section 504 establishes that the mayor shall prepare operating and capital budgets; Section 505 mandates that City Council adopt by resolution an operating budget and a capital budget before the end of each fiscal year; and,
WHEREAS, in the days following the Mayor’s November 10 budget address and submission of his proposed 2026 Operating and Capital Budgets, serious questions have been raised, by Council Members and other informed observers, about potential shortfalls and problematic assumptions in the budget documents; and,
WHEREAS, on November 12, Council Budget Director McDevitt and Assistant Director Walmsley presented their initial assessment of the proposed budgets in a public setting, offering pointed critiques in several areas including, but not limited to, the projections for premium pay and utility expenditures, and;
WHEREAS, on November 14, Council Finance & Law Committee Chair Strassburger distributed a letter to her colleagues outlining many of these same concerns, and strongly recommended that City Council “should not approve the Mayor’s budget proposal before making substantial amendments that bring the spending plan in line with our financial reality,” and;
WHEREAS, City Council exists in a legislative capacity, and its Members, staff, and Budget Office depend on collaboration with the executive branch as it relates to financial and operational matters that require Council approval.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh has determined that the 2026 budget proposal it has been asked to approve does not represent a spending plan that adequately serves the needs of Pittsburgh residents;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that while each Council Member holds individual views on the best financial course of action, it is the consensus of City Council as a body that the Mayor’s proposed 2026 Operating Budget and related revenue bills, as written, require major changes before the December 31 fiscal year deadline;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Council calls on the Mayor’s Office, the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Finance, and other relevant executive agencies to reevaluate the proposed 2026 Operating Budget and related revenue bills to address the concerns that have been raised by Council Members;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Council expects the Mayor’s Administration to participate in joint meetings with Members and staff to rectify the gaps in the City’s spending plan and cooperate in drafting amendments to this effect.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Will of Council shall be transmitted to the Mayor’s Office and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.