City government · Allegheny County, PA

Pittsburgh's money: where it comes from and where it goes

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Pittsburgh took in $826 million and spent $888 million.

Latest recorded year: ended December 31, 2023Comes fromGoes to

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Where it comes from

City taxes64%Federal tax money16%Fines and other6.8%Fees for services (parking, parks and recreation)6.7%State tax money6.3%County and local tax money0.5%

What stands out

16%

of Pittsburgh's money comes from a personal income tax.Most U.S. cities of 50,000+ people get none.

City taxes64%

Other taxes
28%$235 million
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; real estate and stock transfer taxes and 4 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$136 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$44.7 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$29.7 million
  • Amusement taxes$19.2 million
  • Public utility licenses$4.5 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$384 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax
20%$161 million
Individual income tax
16%$132 million

Fees for services6.7%

Fees for services
6.7%$55.4 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges; parking and 2 more
  • Other service charges$44.3 million
  • Parking$8.5 million
  • Parks and recreation$1.4 million
  • Garbage collection$1.2 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money16%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
16%$130 million

State tax money6.3%

Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.

From the state
6.3%$51.9 million

County and local tax money0.5%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
0.5%$4.3 million

Fines and other6.8%

Interest, rents and other
5.7%$47.2 million
Fines
1.1%$9.0 million

Where it goes

Running the government and other costs40%Police, fire, courts and jails29%Roads, transit and parking20%Health and hospitals4.0%Water, sewer, trash and utilities2.5%All other spending4.6%

What stands out

40%

of Pittsburgh's spending goes to running the government and other costs.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 16%.

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs
40%$352 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$230 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$76.0 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$26.0 million
  • Government buildings$19.3 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
29%$256 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$144 million
  • Fire protection$96.7 million
  • Inspections and regulation$8.9 million
  • Courts and legal services$7.0 million
Roads, transit and parking
20%$182 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$182 million
Health and hospitals
4.0%$35.2 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$35.2 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
2.5%$21.9 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste
  • Garbage and solid waste$21.9 million
Interest on debt
2.2%$19.5 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
1.7%$14.9 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$14.9 million
Housing and community development
0.8%$6.8 million
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Pittsburgh. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

What this covers. The money of City of Pittsburgh itself. Other governments that serve the same area (the city, county, school district and state) are separate and not included. Borrowing, transfers between a government's own funds, and pension trust funds are not counted as revenue.