Press Releases

Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner today commended Auditor General Eugene DePasquale for highlighting, statewide, the financial impact of tax-exempt properties on municipal and county governments and school districts. DePasquale released a special report today.   The Auditor General’s report highlights Controller Wagner’s June 2012 report that looked at property tax exemptions in Allegheny County and […]

Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner today addressed the Sports and Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County’s (SEA) Board at its monthly meeting, urging members to direct staff to cooperate with her office’s audit of ticket distribution and encouraged them to provide the information that the taxpayers deserve. Today’s attempt comes after nearly two months […]

Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner’s latest audit has uncovered three-quarters of a million dollars in unpaid taxes from the Hertz Corporation for underpayment of rental car taxes at the Pittsburgh International Airport. Hertz has indicated the underpayment was a result of a computer error.   “This is a significant recovery for Allegheny County’s taxpayers, which […]

Allegheny County Controller Wagner reported today that her audit of county vehicles, which remains ongoing, and includes the use of county vehicle credit cards, has resulted in criminal action against an employee of First Vehicle Services, the maintenance provider for County vehicles.  Auditors in the Controller's office discovered a major discrepancy with a fuel card, […]

Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner initiated an audit of the Sports and Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County with a letter to County Executive Fitzgerald and the SEA on October 17, 2014. Following a month’s delay by the County Administration and the SEA upon her requests to meet regarding this audit, Controller Wagner extended […]

Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner today released her office’s annual audit of street pricing at the Pittsburgh International Airport, which ensures that retail stores are selling goods at the same prices as non-airport locations.  In conjunction with the audit findings, which revealed that some prices were inflated at the airport, Wagner recommended changes to the […]

Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner is calling on County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and his staff to cooperate with her auditors and cease obstructing efforts to examine the Sports and Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County (SEA), and their distribution of tickets to sporting and entertainment events.    Controller Wagner initiated the audit with a […]

Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner today called for an overhaul of the County’s grant award process, upon releasing her audit of the County’s gaming funds. Wagner’s office reviewed $40.5 million from two separate gaming funds administered by the County’s Economic Development Department over a four-year period. The audit revealed that no objective criteria had been […]

Controller Wagner announced today that her office uncovered misuse of Allegheny County taxpayer funds in the course of her ongoing audit of County-owned vehicles.  Records indicate that Richard Fitzgerald, Allegheny County Executive, used his County-issued car improperly, contrary to explicit policy, which dictates that all employees are strictly prohibited from using County-owned vehicles for personal […]

Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner today addressed County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and County Manager William McKain concerning missing information regarding County-owned and leased vehicles. Last month, Wagner requested an inventory list of all vehicles owned and leased by the County from McKain in an effort to begin an audit of County vehicle use, as well […]