City Controller Rachael Heisler says she sees a lot of good things as she puts the city's finances for the first half of 2026 under the microscope.
She says there are signs of a growing economy in the City.
“When wage taxes are up, it means that people are making more money, when payroll is up, it means that more people are hiring and employers within the city are hiring,” Heisler told KDKA Radio’s Michael Bartley.
But there are still some areas of concern, including a drop in Parking Taxes, likely due to the NFL Draft.
Interest earnings are also down, and charges for services like EMS reimbursements are also lower.
The city also lost the ability to collect the so-called "Jock Tax" as well.
In a release, Heisler pointed out some positives and negatives, so far.
Heisler highlighted positive trends
- Real Estate Tax revenue is stable compared to last year, with additional money coming in from the millage increase
- Earned Income Tax and Payroll Preparation Tax are both outpacing 2025 and current-year budget projections
- Deed Transfer Tax is up significantly, outpacing 2025 by 47%. The City has already collected 72% of current-year budget projections.
Heisler also highlighted some areas of concern, while noting that most of them were expected due to other factors:
- Parking Tax revenue is down $5 million compared to 2025, most likely due to the NFL Draft.
- Charges for Services are down $2.6 million.
- Facilities Usage Fees are no longer being collected.
- Interest Earnings are down $1.5 million, as expected, due to the removal of federal ARPA funds and the delayed 2026 bond issuance.
