Pittsburgh is preparing new ways to review city finances as officials confront a projected deficit of about $250 million over five years, CBS Pittsburgh reported. Mayor Corey O’Connor supports the changes, which include more review of financial information and controls on city spending, according to CBS Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
How officials would review city finances
One planned change would give City Controller Rachael Heisler access to Questica, the city’s budgeting software. WTAE reported that Heisler asked for read-only access in October 2025 and that then-Deputy Mayor Jake Pawlak denied the request. The mayor’s office is now expected to provide access; the earlier request and denial are details based on WTAE’s reporting.
Another proposed change would give City Controller Rachael Heisler access to Questica, the city’s budgeting software. WTAE reported that Heisler requested read-only access in October 2025 and that then-Deputy Mayor Jake Pawlak denied the request; the mayor’s office is now expected to provide access. Proposed bills would also give council members an opportunity to respond before money is moved between funds or spent, CBS Pittsburgh reported. Strassburger expects legislation addressing council oversight, according to WTAE.
Spending controls and public visibility
Residents would be able to view department-level purchasing-card spending on a public dashboard, according to CBS Pittsburgh and the Post-Gazette. The proposed rules would also clarify which employee expenses should be paid by card and which should be reimbursed, and tighten requirements for purchasing cards and reimbursements, the Post-Gazette reported. Training on the city’s budgeting process for incoming council members and staff is also planned, CBS reported.
The changes are at different stages: some procedures are already underway, while others require legislative approval, CBS Pittsburgh reported. Strassburger expects more council bills as the effort continues, WTAE reported. O’Connor’s proposed budget does not raise taxes or cut city services or programs, CBS reported. City leaders hope to avoid a tax increase, but the mayor has not promised one, Yahoo News reported. Yahoo News also reported that O’Connor backs the reforms.
Recent budget pressures
The oversight effort follows changes to Pittsburgh’s 2026 budget. Amendments added $28 million in spending, mostly covered by reserve funds, and shifted the projected operating result from a $15.6 million surplus to a $6.5 million deficit, PublicSource reported. Controller Heisler said the budget remained unbalanced until transfers were properly accounted for, according to PublicSource.
Pittsburgh’s earlier financial-distress designation
Pittsburgh also has a history of state financial-distress oversight. Records from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development show the city was designated under Act 47 on Dec. 29, 2003, and the designation was rescinded on Feb. 12, 2018. Those records establish the dates but do not explain what fiscal problems led to the designation or what changed before it was rescinded.
