Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald proposes 2023 budget with no tax hike

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald on Tuesday presented a proposed 2023 budget to county council that includes no property tax increase for county residents.

This marks the 21st time in 22 years that the budget includes no property tax increase, he said.

“I’m very proud of the fact that we have continued to hold the line on property taxes again this budget year,” Fitzgerald said. “The budget proposal contains no increase for inflation, even as inflation rates are over 8%.”

The proposed $1.02 billion operating budget is 2.9% larger than this year’s spending plan, which officials say reflects expected personnel increases for the upcoming year.

This year, the county saw a strong property tax base, and other revenues that had been impacted by the pandemic returned, officials said.

The proposed $84.4 million capital budget wouldn’t require the county to take on new debt. It includes funding for 53 infrastructure and capital improvement projects, including the county’s bridge program. Among notable projects, the budget includes money to finish repairs to the Roberto Clemente Bridge between Downtown and the North Shore.

The proposed budget also commits funding to the county’s buildings program, which includes improvements at the Police and Fire Training Academy, the Kane Community Living Centers, Allegheny County Jail and other county facilities.

Officials said the county will continue its initiative of upgrading facilities to support reduced energy consumption and reliance on fossil fuels.

The county’s proposed grants budget, which totals $1.77 billion, focuses on meeting the needs of the county’s most vulnerable populations, officials said.

The proposed special accounts budget totals $143.4 million and includes a new account for the county’s share of the statewide opioid settlement that county officials expect to spend in 2023.

The settlement will support outreach and treatment for individuals in the community who suffer from opioid use disorder. The money will pay for drug and alcohol programs for the next 16 years, during which time the county will receive $80 million from the settlement.

“We have continued to invest in infrastructure and quality-of-life improvements in our county and remain grateful to the federal government for its support through the American Rescue Plan,” Fitzgerald said.

County Council will begin holding budget hearings on the proposed capital and operating budgets in the coming weeks. They must adopt balanced budgets 25 days before the end of the fiscal year.