Press Releases

I commend Mayor Ravenstahl and the City of Pittsburgh for taking real action today to examine the validity of UPMC’s status as a purely public charity under the Pennsylvania constitution. By taking this step, the City and Mayor Ravenstahl have taken a major stride to institute fairness and accountability for our taxpayers. This is about […]

Disappointed by the lack of information available to taxpayers, Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner unveiled her property tax “Windfall Watch” in an effort to promote greater transparency in this process. Wagner’s “Windfall Watch” can be found at http://windfallwatch.alleghenycontroller.com . Citing no central place for taxpayers to access information to determine whether their taxes are fair, […]

Urges Senate to Vote “No” on Proposed Constitutional Amendment that Restricts Municipalities’ Ability to Challenge Tax Exemptions Today, County Controller Chelsa Wagner, a former State Representative, voiced her opposition to Senate Bill 4 and she urged the Legislature to allow decisions on property tax exemptions to be made by local governments.  Tomorrow at 10:00am, the […]

Today, Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner released the first audit report in over a decade regarding the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC). The Controller initiated this analysis to assess whether CCAC has conducted its operations with demonstrated fiscal prudence, and in a manner which justifies the continued significant financial support of the taxpayers of […]

Today, Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner sounded a cautionary alarm after her analysis revealed that the County could be on track to overcharge the average household by fifty dollars in property taxes in 2013. This overcharge could net the County as much as million in “windfall” revenues.  The Controller also expressed concern over the lack […]

Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner released the following statement regarding tonight’s County Council meeting and the failure of the County Executive and County Council to take real action to examine the County’s inflated millage rate and avoid a potential illegal windfall: "While I appreciate that County Council made some effort tonight, this still does not […]

Auditors uncover no-bid contracts, preferential rates, and lack of oversight Controller Chelsa Wagner today released an operational analysis of the County’s steam heat provider, Pittsburgh Allegheny County Thermal (PACT). For the period of June 1, 2010 through May 31, 2011, the County paid PACT .4 million to heat and cool six buildings. In addition to […]

Allegheny County’s financial management system – maintained and operated by County Controller’s Office – has been an example nationally for use of innovative, efficient best-practices and smart business processes in municipal government. The system also allows for better intergovernmental communication for services and increased transparency and efficiency.   Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner appeared today […]

Audit validates Wagner’s previous recommendations for improving process Today, Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner released an audit of the County’s Office of Property Assessments (OPA)’s administration of property tax exemptions and abatements. Wagner renewed her call for greater accountability, increased transparency through technological innovation, and oversight of all tax relief and tax forgiveness programs. Last […]

Pittsburgh City Controller Michael Lamb and Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner today jointly announced the merging of financial management systems under the County’s JD Edwards EnterpriseOne system. "For the past four years, the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County have been diligently working and planning for the implementation of a joint financial management system," said […]