By Bobby Kerlik

Published: Tuesday, December 4, 2012, 7:52 p.m.
Updated: Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Allegheny County Council on Tuesday passed a $799.4 million budget for 2013 that lowers the tax rate to 4.73 mills, offsetting the rise in property values because of the court-ordered reassessment.

The budget, which passed 13-1, closely mirrors the one that Executive Rich Fitzgerald presented to council last month. Fitzgerald said in a prepared statement that he is glad the budget passed and “that we are able to move into 2013 with no tax increase and a lower millage rate and that we did so without using one-time revenues to balance our budget.”

The budget includes a $447,000 cut to Controller Chelsa Wagner's office — the only row office that lost funding. Council restored $200,000 in funding to the controller from Fitzgerald's proposed $647,000 cut but defeated a proposal from Councilwoman Heather Heidelbaugh, R-Mt. Lebanon, to restore more funding. Heidelbaugh voted against the budget.

Wagner and Fitzgerald have clashed on several issues. She said the cuts will force layoffs in her office, while Fitzgerald said his cuts do not affect personnel.

“It's about me not being a good little girl. This is the oldest style of politics there is,” Wagner said.

The 17 percent millage decrease means that a person whose home is assessed at $100,000 would pay $473 under the lower millage rate, instead of $569. Under state law, taxing bodies cannot reap more than 5 percent more in revenue as a result of reassessments and must adjust tax rates accordingly.

Bobby Kerlik is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-391-0927 or bkerlik@tribweb.com.

1. Pens’ Bylsma: Vitale scratch due to faceoff performance
2. Steelers quarterback Roethlisberger likes the revamped offense
3. Steelers’ Polamalu trim, fit as he arrives for OTAs
4. Penguins Insider: Time is right for Jokinen’s return
5. Mayoral nominee Peduto plans city hall house-cleaning if he’s elected
6. Kovacevic: Pens improve under microscope
7. Neal’s solid play soon could pay off on scoresheet for Penguins
8. Coach Tomlin, Steelers facing plenty of questions as OTAs start
9. Couple accused of abusing adopted kids moving in with parents
10. Steelers notebook: Less talk, more work is Tomlin’s theme
11. Pitt wins Big East Tournament opener, faces Notre Dame on Thursday

There are currently no comments for this story.
Subscribe today! Click here for our subscription offers.