Dec 15 2024 Operating Budget Approved by County Council

Dec 15h in Bold Voices by

(December 15, 2023)

On December 4, the Allegheny County Council voted to approve County Executive Rich Fitzgerald’s proposed operating budget for 2024.

Fitzgerald proposed funding the Department of Children Initiatives at $1.15 million. This is significantly less than the 2019 recommendation to allocate $20 million in general funds to DCI. This difference is currently made up by one-time funds like American Rescue Plan Act dollars. In the future, though, advocates are hoping for the county to fund DCI at $20 million, which County Executive-Elect Innamorato pledged to do earlier this year.

In approving the budget, the County Council made several amendments to Fitzgerald’s proposal, including increasing funding for CCAC by $3.6 million. Some of the other amendments included:

  • $50,000 for the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council. County Council approved unanimously.
  • $200,000 allocated to the District Attorney’s office to install cameras at particular intersections throughout the county to support policy departments in smaller municipalities. County Council approved in a 5-1 vote, with Councilwoman Bethany Hallam opposed.
  • $750,000 to hire a consultant and make improvements to the Allegheny County 911 call center. County Council approved unanimously.
  • $50,000 to hire an outside lawyer to sit on the Jail Oversight Board. County Council approved unanimously.

To read more about the amendments that County Council made to the operating budget, see the Post Gazette.

The budget still needs final approval from County Executive Fitzgerald before his term ends in the new year.

Read More:
Allegheny County Council passes amended budget with increase in community college funding (Trib)

Laura Condon, Allies for Children Project Coordinator