A new report by Allegheny County Controller Corey O'Connor raises concerns about how much money the County continues to spend, as it's outpacing what it's taking in.
O'Connor's report says last year, property tax revenues fell for the first time in 15 years.
Then, money from the drink tax and the sales tax have continued to lag behind what they were prior to the pandemic.
O'Connor says the County spent $45.5 million dollars more than it took in last year.
And, the number would have been even larger if not for $30 million in left over federal Covid funds to cover personnel costs.
O'Connor says even with the increase in millage that was signed into law for 2025, the situation remains unsustainable.
“While the first millage increase in over a decade may prevent immediate service cuts in the coming year, our situation remains unsustainable,” O’Connor wrote in an introduction to the PAFR. “Neither further tax increases nor a County-wide reassessment advocated by some would change the dynamic of rising costs combined with the exhaustion of federal pandemic aid and assessment reductions to large commercial properties.”