On April 21, the mayor of Pittsburgh signed legislation that wrapped up the 2026 budget. Unlike state budget impasses, there was an approved budget, though the process was a bit out of the ordinary.
Pittsburgh’s Home Rule Charter spells out the fiscal year, mayoral budget preparation, City Council adoption and amending an approved budget and transferring money. Time spent in Act 47 and state oversight led to ordinances that added preliminary budgets, five-year forecasts, certification of revenues and goals for the year-end fund balance.
The preliminary budgets were announced with “no tax increase, while maintaining core services, and avoiding layoffs.” The revenue forecast for 2026-2030 was certified the same day, with the controller expressing the need for “continued vigilance” and “particular attention” for several revenues.
Hearings on the proposed operating budget given to City Council in November began and there were concerns raised by members of the council: a will of the council, the council’s budget office reaction and a proposed 30 percent property tax increase followed.
Eventually a $693 million operating budget with a 20 percent property tax hike was approved by City Council. The outgoing mayor allowed the budget to become law without his signature.
| Budget | Expenditures | FTE |
| Preliminary (Sept. 2025) | $680 m | 3,236.77 |
| Proposed (Nov. 2025) | $678 m | 3,230.77 |
| Approved (Dec. 2025) | $693 m | 3,248.92 |
| Approved (Apr. 2026) | $721 m | 3,247.92 |
In March the new mayor announced the budget would be reopened to correct “false assumptions” and “areas that were underfunded, improperly funded or not funded at all.” That process began March 24.
As a result of amendments, the $693 million budget became a $721 million budget approved by the council and signed by the mayor.
Examining the budget on the basis of the 27 departments/bureaus/offices/board/commission, all but four will see a higher spending level for 2026 in this budget than in the one approved in December. The biggest jumps are in Human Resources/Civil Service (retiree health care costs and a voluntary benefit fund were increased) and Law (jock tax litigation and possible refunds budgeted here), totaling close to $17 million, or over half of the total change. Five others had an increase of over $1 million from the December budget.
On full-time equivalent employees, five additional positions were offset by a decrease of six positions, leading to an approved headcount of 3,247.92 for 2026. There was no change in headcount for 17 departments/bureaus/offices/board/commission from the December budget.
With the newly-approved budget and five-year forecast, the city expects to end 2030 where most forecasts have—at the 10 percent minimum where it wants the ending fund balance to be as a percentage of spending. Elected officials say they want to solve lingering fiscal issues through growth. But until the constraints the city and other levels of government place on business are loosened and the use of subsidies and special tax treatment are curtailed, growth will be elusive.
