Press Releases

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 […]

“…the Oversight Board is being kept on a ‘need to know’ basis by the County administration, receiving more rhetoric and talking points than actual information.” 412-350-4157, Louis.Takacs@AlleghenyCounty.US Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner issued the following statement regarding the cancellation of the County Jail Oversight Board meeting previously scheduled for April 2: While the COVID-19 pandemic […]

“Why is this County having workers report for reporting’s sake–meanwhile putting them, their families and our entire community at major risk?” MEDIA CONTACT:Lou Takacs 412-350-4157, Louis.Takacs@AlleghenyCounty.US (Pittsburgh) March 24, 2020 The following testimony will be presented this evening to Allegheny County Council on behalf of County Controller Chelsa Wagner: I would like to thank Council […]

“…government should be leading in the effort to promote the best practices necessary to ‘flatten the curve.’” (Pittsburgh)March 13, 2020 Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner issued the following statement regarding operations of her office during the continuing concerns over Coronavirus: I wish to commend and thank the County administration and Health Department staff who have […]