Pittsburgh City Council approves measure requiring mayor to make sure budget proposals are legal

Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday approved legislation that will require the mayor’s office to make sure budget proposals comply with federal, state and local laws and the city’s home rule charter before they are introduced to council.

The measure comes after former Mayor Bill Peduto proposed a major pay increase for council members in the 2022 budget. Council members later discovered the pay raise was not allowed under the city’s home rule charter, forcing them to lower their pay raise to bring it into compliance.

Council President Theresa Kail-Smith, who sponsored the measure, has said that City Council is not responsible for ensuring that operating budgets are in compliance with relevant laws.

While Kail-Smith acknowledged the measure was spurred partly by the confusion caused by the illegal pay raise proposal, she said it’s also part of a broader effort to ensure that legislation on such matters is updated and clear.

The legislation specifies that operating budgets prepared by the mayor’s office must not use illegal revenue sources or contain illegal expenditures, must comply with applicable collective bargaining agreements and must be in compliance with all applicable laws and the city’s home rule charter.

There was no discussion on the measure Tuesday. The measure was unanimously approved by council members present. Councilwoman Deb Gross was not present.