Allegheny County Council retracts ballot measure

Financial pressures and public opinion swayed council members to repeal the vote.

By MEGAN TROTTER
TribLive

In a swift reversal, Allegheny County Council voted Tuesday to remove from the November ballot a proposed charter amendment that would have asked voters to eliminate the 0.4% increase limit on council’s operating budget.

The repeal measure passed in a 11-3 vote, reversing council’s June 23 decision to place the referendum before voters. The original proposal would have asked voters to repeal the county Home Rule Charter’s cap limiting the portion of the county’s locally levied tax revenue that can be used for council’s operating budget.

The referendum was originally sponsored by Dan Grzybek (D-Bethel Park), Bob Palmosina (D-Pittsburgh), Jordan Botta (D-Bloomfield), Kathleen Madonna-Emmerling (D-Moon Township), Pat Catena (D-Carnegie) and at-large members Bethany Hallam and Alex Rose.

Just weeks later, several of its leading supporters reversed course.

Grzybek, Hallam and Catena joined legislation introduced by Councilwoman Suzanne Filiaggi (R-Franklin Park) to rescind the ballot question before voters could consider it.

Council President Michelle Naccarati- Chapkis (D-Plum), also signed on as a sponsor of the repeal.

During Tuesday’s council meeting, Filiaggi said council members were inundated with emails, phone calls, text messages and social media comments after the June vote, with many residents objecting to the proposal.

“I received, and I imagine that everyone up here has received, a lot of feedback from residents, friends, neighbors, from everyone,” Filiaggi said. “Some of it expressed concern — others expressed downright outrage.”

She said many residents reminded council members they serve as a “citizens’ council” and urged them to hold themselves to the same fiscal standards they expect of the rest of county government.

“Eliminating limits on council’s own budget authority, even if not intended to produce immediate spending increases, risks sending the wrong message to the taxpayers we represent,” Filiaggi said.

The public’s comments came as county officials continue to grapple with significant financial challenges.

Several council members said their positions also changed after receiving updated information about the county’s finances during a meeting with County Manager John Fournier.

“In the past few weeks … we have found out that our pension fund is $1.5 billion in the red because of a lack of contributions by previous administrations,” Hallam said. “We have found out that the county administration has slashed healthcare for our county employees’ spouses.”

Council members who voted against the repeal included Rose, DeWitt Walton (D-Hill District) and Paul Klein (D-Pittsburgh).

“Any decisions about increasing our spending would have to be approved by all members of council. So just removing the cap doesn’t mean that you know we’re given license to go on the spending,” Klein said. “We would still be armed with the same information that we have right now.”

Klein added that he was concerned that council was backing off something that nine council members initially voted in favor of and believed in.

“Repeal should not be understood as a retreat,” Filiaggi said. “It is an act of restraint, transparency and accountability.”

Council benefits nixed

Discussion over whether to amend the repeal to also include a separate referendum question regarding council’s access to county-funded benefits, which passed in June, were heated, as council members exchanged remarks over optics.

Ultimately, council shot down that amendment in a 6-8 vote.

Paid council staff vote still on ballot The second referendum question will remain on the ballot, asking voters to eliminate charter restrictions that keep council from receiving county-funded personal staff, district offices and fringe benefits, including health insurance, life insurance and pensions.