Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner today called on Gov. Tom Corbett to restore funding to critical County programs that was cut in the Governor’s proposed 2012-13 budget.

“Your budget does not include any money for either the Law Enforcement Grant or Pittsburgh Municipal Court Grant, previously funded at $7.5 million and $2 million respectively,” Wagner said in a letter to the Governor. “Failure to fund these grants forces Allegheny County taxpayers, alone, to cover nearly $10 million for County Police, the Medical Examiner, and Municipal Courts. The absence of these funding sources means that Allegheny County taxpayers shoulder a double-burden for services that our County continues to provide on behalf of the Commonwealth, while the Commonwealth provides similar services in other areas of the state.” 

During a press conference with County officials and labor leaders, Wagner said other areas that “compound the unfairness your budget visits on Allegheny County taxpayers” include: 

• Failure to address the $64 million funding gap for the Port Authority of Allegheny County;
• 20% cut in human services funding;
• 5% cut to the Community College of Allegheny County;
• 4% cut in Medicaid reimbursements that would significantly affect the services provided by Kane Hospitals. 

Note:  Controller Wagner's Letter to Gov. Corbett is attached.

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