City of Pittsburgh - File #: 2003-2585

• File #: 2003-2585
• Version: 1
• Type: Proclamation
• Status: Adopted
• File created: 12/2/2003
• In control: City Council
• Final action: 12/2/2003
• Enactment date: 12/2/2003
• Enactment #: 864
• Title: Now, therefore be it resolved that we, the Council, pledge to work with the Mayor in a cooperative fashion to enact a balanced budget by the end of the year once the Mayor has provided, as required by the Home Rule Charter, a balanced budget for this body's consideration.
• Sponsors: William Peduto, Gene Ricciardi, Twanda Carlisle, Len Bodack
• Indexes: PROCLAMATION - MS. PAYNE

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
12/2/2003		City Council	Adopted	Pass

Presenter
Presented by Mr. Peduto

Body
Whereas, the Home Rule Charter of the City of Pittsburgh was approved by the electorate of the City of Pittsburgh on November 5, 1974; and,

Whereas, the Home Rule Charter Commission, in its construction of the Charter notes that
Pittsburgh's strong-mayor form of government…is a basically sound form, but needs to be strengthened in three areas.

The first area in need of strengthening is checks and balances, that is sufficient strength needs to be provided for each of the various branches of city government to prevent any single branch from abusing its power in the future; and,

Whereas, the Charter's section 204(b), Powers and Duties Of The Mayor, commands the Mayor to "execute and enforce the provisions of this charter, the ordinances and resolutions of the City and the laws of this Commonwealth"; and,

Whereas, Article Five of the Home Rule Charter outlines the fiscal operation of the City. It calls for annual operating and capital budgets to be submitted to council approximately 7 weeks in advance of the end of the fiscal year, and for a six year capital program that shall be reviewed and updated annually. The actual language in Article Five is as follows (with emphasis added):.

502. OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET

There shall be an annual balanced operating budget and an annual capital budget.

503. FORM OF OPERATING BUDGET

The proposed operating budget shall be a line item budget or another type of budget authorized by ordinance and shall contain sufficient information on intended accomplishments to allow adequate appraisal of the work of each unit of government during the fiscal year.

504. PREPARATION OF OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS

The operating and capital budgets shall be prepared by the mayor. The mayor or a representative of the mayor shall conduct public hearings to obtain the advice of other officials and citizens as part of the preparation of both budgets. The mayor shall, ...