Press Releases

(Pittsburgh) June 13, 2018 Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner said that housing select County Jail inmates in alternative housing/work-release programs saves the County almost $10 per inmate, per day, a savings of more than $1 million per year at current contracted capacity. Expanding these programs to a quarter of the Jail’s population of about 2,400 […]

(Pittsburgh) May 31, 2018 Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner today released her annual reports on County finances, and said that the County’s financial stability has put it in position to make needed investments in vulnerable populations. Wagner said the County’s fastest-growing costs are in Human Services and Jail Operations, costs fueled by hopelessness and lack […]

(Pittsburgh) May 30, 2018 Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner issued the following statement regarding the announcement of the Allegheny County Children’s Fund ballot initiative campaign: “I urge caution following today’s announcement of a campaign to increase County millage. We should first closely examine current spending on Human Services programs to ensure it is being put […]

(Pittsburgh) May 17, 2018 Allegheny County’s Transit Fund, derived from the Drink and Vehicle Rental taxes, has built a $16 million surplus and brings in millions each year beyond what is required to provide the Port Authority’s local match for state funding. While these funds are available for capital projects or service enhancements across the […]

(Pittsburgh) March 15, 2018 As pharmaceutical drug costs continue to rise for health care providers and consumers across the nation, the County and its contractors must do all it can to control these costs to its Kane Regional Health Centers, which provide skilled long-term and rehabilitation care to more than 1,000 mostly indigent residents, Allegheny […]

(Pittsburgh) March 12, 2018 Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner hailed the “Citizens First” campaign finance and ethics reform plan announced by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf in the Allegheny County Courthouse today, and said she will work with County Council members to introduce similar reforms for County-level candidates and officials. “Pennsylvanians have known for years that […]

(Pittsburgh) February 21, 2018 Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner, who has for more than a year called for the City of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) to launch an aggressive program of lead water line replacements to eliminate the serious health risk of lead water contamination, today issued a Taxpayer Alert […]

(Pittsburgh) January 12, 2018 According to PWSA testing data reported to state regulators, lead levels in PWSA water increased during the mandated testing period ended December 31, 2017. Results of home lead tests conducted between July 1 and December 31, 2017 and reported at drinkingwater.state.pa.us show a 90th percentile lead level of 21 parts per […]

(Pittsburgh) November 30, 2017 About $25 million remains in two pots of funding created by casino fees and revenue, and closer oversight is required to make sure this money produces the greatest impact for County residents, Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner says in two audits and a “Taxpayer Alert” issued today. The Community Infrastructure and […]

Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner today released results of her office’s annual review of “street pricing” by businesses within Pittsburgh International Airport’s AIRMALL. The lease between the Airport Authority and AIRMALL requires that its concessionaires not charge prices higher than those of comparable businesses outside the Airport. The CountyController is assigned to monitor compliance with […]