Progress Pittsburgh

More from the city Council town hall meeting

Originally uploaded by progresspittsburgh

The council members are talking public comment from the 100 or so community members that have turned out for this evenings meeting.
Councilman Motznick, councilwoman Payne and councilman Peduto have arrived.

Like most community meetings – people show up to talk about their individual issues. the first comment had nothing do with the budget – a resident who wanted to know what to do about water being shut off. I understand that city residents have issues but these public meetings would be productive if city residents talked about the actual budget rather than your personal neighborhood issue.

Resident 5 wants to know what the city rules are for yard sales. Again not about the budget. Thank you to councilman Dowd for offring to help resident 5 solve the yard sale issue.

City Council Town Hall Meeting in district 7 and some facts on the city budget

Originally uploaded by progresspittsburgh

City council has hit the road for a tour of district 7 and this town hall meeting at the Union Project. This is part of the budgeting process for all members of city council to tour the council districts and attend council meetings. Currently council members Patrick Dowd, Bruce Kraus, Doug Shields and Darlene Harris are at the meeting. Also seen are Dick Scrinjar and Dom Costa.

Here are just some facts covered at the meeting that seemed interesting there is a lot covered and I can’t type as fast as they are talking:
-2008 budget = 423.8 million
-20.6 % of that is debt service
-expenditures are projected to exceed revenues in 2011
-1031 miles of streets in the city of Pittsburgh
-2008 capital budget =$ 99.3 million
-170 miles of brick, blockstone and concrete streets
-400 new building condemnations each year

Councilman Dowd is now talking about poulation loss, especially in regard to the forecast that expenditures will exceed revenues in 2011.