Issue
Millions in unpaid water and electric bills that keep landing on the city budget.
City Council
Last November, council learned of $13 million in unaccounted-for city water bills. In April, it heard the city had pulled $10 million from two trust funds for general expenses. On Oct. 13, two council members introduced five finance reform bills to end such surprises. One would train members to read a budget, and another would put quarterly finance meetings into law.
City Council
City income from permits, licenses, and investment interest is already falling short this year. The acting budget director said the 2026 deficit could top $24 million. If so, the city would have one more year to turn things around before falling under state financial control. Still, she said the city will have a better picture in about a month.
City Council
The money set aside for the city's unpaid water bill has come up $1 million short. On Feb. 4, the budget director said only $6 million of the $7 million council approved last year is available. The city still owes the missing $1 million, he said. Next week, council is expected to amend the transfer amount.
City Council
Council's budget director said the city can't afford its $13 million Pittsburgh Water bill. Until last year, swapped services offset the cost, the authority's chief executive said. This year, the city is being charged the full retail rate for the first time. Next year's preliminary budget sets aside $8.5 million, short of the projected $10 million cost.
City Council
Some of the city's electric bills went unpaid, a Public Works audit found. Now, council has agreed to pay off the debt, which the department negotiated down to $204,750. A department official said the city hasn't had a utilities manager since 2012. He said procurement card payments could make the city eligible for an $11 to $15 million rebate.