A New Financial Plan for Pittsburgh
Last Wednesday, City Council took an important step forward to create a responsible and forward-thinking five-year financial plan. The original plan that was introduced by the Administration contained several clauses that greatly concerned City Council and lacked new initiatives to create a more efficient 21st century government.
Through the leadership of Council Finance Chair Bill Peduto, Council Members Bruce Kraus and Theresa Kail-Smith, and Controller Michael Lamb, City Council offered several important amendments to the Plan. The amendments fall under four general categories – City-County Consolidation of Services, Budget and Taxation Reform, Government
Efficiency, and Public Safety. Some of the key features of the amendments are:
City-County Consolidation of Services
- Invsetigate consolidation services in Fleet Maintenance, IT, Payroll, Purchasing, and Tax Collection
- Create a Regional Parks Commission that oversees all RAD parks in the County
Budget and Taxation Reform
- Committing all slots parlor revenue windfalls to paying down debt
- Instituting new guidelines to ensure there is truth in budgeting
- Institute a .55% Payroll Tax on non-profits
- Go after waste, fraud, and abuse to collect taxes that are not being fairly paid
Government Efficiency
- Create a Facilities Master Plan for all City owned buildings
- Create a Recreational Master Plan for City pools, recreation centers, senior centers, and ball fields
- Create a Fleet Master Plan
- Create a comprehensive Risk Management Plan
- Institute re-routing software to improve efficiency in street paving, snow plowing, and street cleaning
Public Safety
- Provide City employees with a five-year plan for increased salaries
- Investigate the feasability of keeping a North Side EMS station open 24 hours
- Keep open the Greenfield fire station
- Institute new initiatives to help with police retention and recruitment
No Comments
No comments yet.

![[Facebook]](http://billpeduto.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/facebook.png)
![[Twitter]](http://billpeduto.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/twitter.png)
![[Email]](http://billpeduto.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/email.png)




