Allegheny County Raises Property Taxes

Faced with $33 million in funding cuts from the state and federal governments, Allegheny County Councilman Michael Finnerty said they had no choice but to raise property taxes by 1 mill.

Finnerty, a Democrat, said the budget cuts would have “decimated” important programs that help the county’s poorest residents.

“Our only other choice was to eliminate the programs that were working,” Finnerty told Patch. “As a government, we have to be able to provide those services. In the long run, it probably would cost us more.”

He pointed to $22 million in cuts to Children, Youth & Family Services that would have severely stressed the agency. He also said , and the court system would be without $10 million to pay for electronic monitoring, domestic relations programs and child support enforcement.

“These programs are model programs that other counties are looking at because they work so well with us,” Finnerty said, adding the county hasn't raised taxes in 12 years. “I think if we look at what has been happening in the neighboring counties … you can see our millage is still the lowest around.”

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Wednesday that the council voted 11-4 along party lines to approve the $784 million operating budget and the tax hike to pay for it.

The public backlash against the tax increase, which now sets the rate at 5.69 mills, has been passionate, Finnerty said. However, Finnerty added that he has received just as many letters from constituents who wanted them to restore the services as those who were against a tax increases.

The increase means someone with a property assessed at $100,000 will be paying $569 a year–a $100 increase–in county property taxes.

Like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter @SewickleyPatch