The Tribune-Review quotes this public official and that private official gushing about all the wonderful economic opportunities that could come down the proverbial runway with last month’s newly inaugurated direct Aer Lingus flights between Pittsburgh and Dublin.
But the question remains: If these flights are the supposed be-all and end-all for economic development for Greater Pittsburgh, why were Pennsylvania taxpayers pickpocketed for $5.25 million to subsidize these flights over two years?
Oh, the wastrelism.
For the umpteenth time, taxpayers should not be shaken down for venture capital dollars. The only dollars that should be involved are consumer dollars used to purchase airline tickets. Using taxpayer money to reduce an airline’s exposure is antithetical to sound public policy.
And as Customs and Border Protection data showed in 2025, Pittsburgh International’s foreign flights are exporting more than twice as many travelers (and their dollars) abroad than importing them.
The Trib also reports that an Allegheny County Council committee voted 5-2 this past week “to advance two charter amendments that would ask voters whether to remove long-standing restrictions on [the] council’s budget and access to county-funded benefits.”
“If approved by voters, the amendments would eliminate existing Home-Rule Charter limits on County Council’s spending authority and member benefits,” the Trib says. Enabling legislation would be required of the council should voters approve the measures.
But the spending limit is in place for a reason – to limit the council’s spending. Restricting bureaucratic profligacy always is sound public policy. Enabling it is reckless governance.
“The second amendment would ask voters whether to eliminate Charter restrictions that bar council members from receiving county-funded personal staff, district offices and fringe benefits, including health insurance, life insurance and pensions,” the Trib reports.
Advocates for the change argue a lack of such benefits makes the council the poor step-child of county government, given that the chief executive and row offices have such perks.
But those are full-time positions; county councilors serve part-time, with part-time salaries of just under $11,000 annually.
And talk about a slippery slope. It was three years ago that the council snookered voters into eliminating a rule that paid them based on meeting attendance (at the same annual rate if they didn’t miss meetings) and converted the stipend into an annual salary, regardless of attendance.
Now, the council wants taxpayer-paid personal staff, district offices and bennies? From the same circus act that raised property taxes 36 percent last year?
And do remember that the county pension system already is sucking for air — funded at only just about 30 percent of what’s needed to meet its pension obligations and, by some ciphering, facing insolvency by 2040.
Pass the Benadryl. For we’re having a severe allergic reaction to this latest attack of Government Mission Creep that thumbs its nose at the Home Rule Charter’s original intent – to keep county government limited.
It’s waaaay past time to put a restrictor plate on these flying wastrels and shameless profligates.
Colin McNickle is communications and marketing director at the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy (cmcnickle@alleghenyinstitute.org).
