Pittsburgh Residents To Pay Higher Taxes After Parks Vote

PITTSBURGH, PA - Pittsburgh voters went to the polls Tuesday to decide whether to raise their own taxes. A ballot referendum asked residents if they wanted a 0.5-mill property tax increase that would be used strictly for city parks improvements and maintenance.

Voters decided affirmatively, With 391 of 402 city precincts reporting, the referendum appeared to have been approved. There were 32,049 votes in favor, 30,032 opposed. Results are unofficial until verified by the county elections division.

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, a private organization, was the driving force behind the ballot question that Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto supported. The tax hike would cost property owners $50 for every $100,000 of assessed value and would generate about $10 million annually.

The conservancy asserts the tax is needed to address an annual $13 million hole in parks maintenance funding each year and $400 million in deferred maintenance projects.

But city Controller Michael Lamb and several city council members have contended that parks maintenance should come primarily from the city's budget and not the trust fund that would be
established if the parks tax is approved. The parks also receive money annually through the Allegheny Regional Asset District, which is funded from half the revenue from the 1 percent Allegheny County sales tax that is collected in addition to the 6 percent state sales tax.

Who would control the trust fund also has been an issue. Under the current plan, the city would maintain ownership of the parks and share management with the conservancy. Council would approve any money to be spent from the trust fund.

The trust fund would support the city's five regional parks - Schenley, Frick, Highland, Riverview and Emerald View - and 160 smaller neighborhood and community parks.