The Peduto administration released its 2019 capital and operating budget proposals late Friday evening, as part of its obligation to submit spending plans to the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority ahead of the formal introduction to City Council in November.
The city is seeking to spend $568.1 million on operating expenses, which includes public safety, street paving, snow removal, maintenance of parks and personnel costs. Capital expenditures include complete streets initiatives, infrastructure improvements and economic development projects totaling $132.9 million.
The proposal includes funding to pave 75 miles of streets at a cost of $20.3 million, which according to an administration statement is “the greatest amount Pittsburgh government has spent on paving in memory.” That’s up from $17 million in paving last year.
The city is also looking to set aside $6 million for landslides and slope failure remediation – double the 2018 budget – after heavy rains shut down roadways and destroyed homes. Another $3.6 million could be spent on flood mitigation.
Other notable projects include a $2 million public safety training facility in Lincoln-Lemington and $13 million to replace the city’s more than 30,000 streetlamps with internet-enabled LEDs.
Revenues for 2019 are projected to be $579.8 million without an increase to the real estate tax, the largest single source of revenue for the city.
