PITTSBURGH — On Tuesday, Pittsburgh City Council members voted to approve a 2025 budget that will not raise taxes and is slated to avoid layoffs. But, some are concerned the plan won’t cover the cost of public safety overtime.
Councilmembers approved a more than $665 million operating budget and a $120 million capital budget for 2025.
Theresa Kail-Smith represents the West End. She was the only Pittsburgh City Council member to vote against the budget because she says it made her uncomfortable supporting something that cuts the amount of money budgeted for public safety over time. The Pittsburgh Police Bureau spent more than $18 million on overtime this year, according to the city controller. The 2025 budget only allocates $15 million for that.
“It’s because you are actually putting people’s lives in jeopardy. And so I want to make sure that whatever we’re doing people of all ages, of all neighborhoods across the city, visitors that are coming are safe when they come into the city of Pittsburgh and that our employees that work in public safety are safe.”
Kail-Smith also says she wants to figure out a way to keep the police horses or mounted unit, which is something the 2025 budget plans to phase out by June of next year.
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