Press Releases

Noting that about 100,000 mail ballots requested by Allegheny County voters have yet to be returned, Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner and Allegheny County Councilwoman Bethany Hallam reminded these voters that ballots can be returned in person to the County Office Building lobby through Election Day, and that mail ballot packages must be submitted in […]

Voters with Mail Ballot Packages Must Submit Them In Full Before Election Day or Cancel at Polling Locations A group of local elected officials and community leaders convened by Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner and Allegheny County Councilwoman Bethany Hallam has issued an informational video urging County voters to “Bring It!,” referring to any mail-in […]

Since a 2017 change in state regulations, Allegheny County has directly paid Court Reporters to prepare transcripts of court proceedings requested by outside parties, generally law firms. Previously, Court Reporters were paid directly by requestors for preparation of transcripts. Allegheny County has generally employed about 35 full-time and two part-time Court Reporters. Court Reporters’ salaries, […]

Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner today issued her latest “Taxpayer Alert,” which provides an update on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic downturn on County revenue and expenditures, including the dispensation of funds provided by the federal CARES Act aid package. Wagner reports that the County is expected to come close to […]

Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner said her office’s audit of the County Health Department’s (ACHD) Clean Air Act permitting program showed improvements in 2019 over its previous audit five years before, but continued to fall short of full compliance with its obligations under federal law. Title V Section 503(c) of the Clean Air Act indicates […]

(Pittsburgh) August 17, 2020 “The decision by the City of Pittsburgh and police administration to deploy authoritarian tactics resembling a criminal abduction against a peaceful protest leader on Saturday is as inscrutable as it is distressing. Weeks after national outcry over similar tactics in Portland and New York City, Pittsburgh decides it wants to join […]

(Pittsburgh) July 28, 2020   The growing focus on the injustices caused by mass incarceration in the United States has also shed light on the significant profits made by private corporations providing services to prisons.   In a September 2019 letter to major investors in prison service companies, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and U.S. Representatives […]

(Pittsburgh) July 17, 2020   Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner said strong credit ratings issued to the County by Moody’s Investors Service and S&P Global Ratings show the benefits of the independent fiscal oversight of the Controller’s Office. “The County’s continued strong ratings even amid the economic downturn owe in large part to a robust fund […]

“Given that the County has paid Deloitte more than $150 million for DHS projects since 2003, the County’s failure to elicit greater detail on its invoices  creates the potential for significant overpayments.” (Pittsburgh) June 23, 2020   Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner said her office’s audit of a software development contract for the County’s Department of […]

Calls for hazard pay for Glen Hazel personnel and limitations on sharing staff across locations (Pittsburgh) April 17, 2020 Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner raised concerns with County administration and Kane Regional Centers officials today that sharing employees between the Kane Glen Hazel facility—where 73 residents and staff have tested positive for COVID-19 to date—and […]