Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
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Website evaluation
Main article: Evaluation of Pennsylvania county websites
Contents |
This site was most recently evaluated on December 16, 2012.
The good
- Budget
- The most current budget is listed.
- Budgets are archived for 4 years.[2]
- Administrative Officials
- Department heads are listed for each department.[3]
- Contact information for administrative officials is provided including a mailing address, phone number, and personalized email.
- Elected Officials
- Elected officials are listed with a mailing address, phone number and personalized email.[4]
- Meetings
- Meeting minutes are archived for 6 years.
- Meeting agendas are archived for 6 years.
- A meeting calendar is available and names the times and locations of public meetings.
- Meeting videos are available.[5]
- Audits
- The most recent audit is posted.
- Audits dating back to 2009 are available.[6]
- Contracts
- Public Records
- The public information officer is identified and maintained by the Open Records Officers. This person provides a mailing address, phone number and personalized email.
- A public records form is provided.
- A fee schedule for documents is provided.[9]
- Taxes
- Lobbying
- There is a government relations section of the Adminisrative Division.[12]
- Permits and zoning
- Zoning ordinances are posted online.
- Permit applications can be downloaded on the site, along with information on how to apply for the permits.[13]
The bad
- Lobbying
- If the county engaged in lobbying actives or if it's a member of government lobbying associations are not disclosed. Nor is the total cost lobbying activities or membership dues for associations available.
- No listing the county credit card receipts or posting on the checkbook register.
- Search function does not always turn up relevant findings
Elected Officials: Council Members
| Name | District |
|---|---|
| Dan Onorato | County Executive |
| John DeFazio | Council At-Large |
| Edward Kress | Council At-Large |
| Matt Drozd | Council, District 1 |
| Jan Rea | Council, District 2 |
| James Burn, Jr. | President, Council, District 3 |
| Michael Finnerty | Council, District 4 |
| Vince Gastgeb | Council, District 5 |
| John Palmiere | Council, District 6 |
| Nicholas Futules | Council, District 7 |
| Charles Martoni | Vice President, Council, District 8 |
| Robert Macey | Council, District 9 |
| William Robinson | Council, District 10 |
| Barbara Danko | Council, District 11 |
| James Ellenbogen | Council, District 12 |
| Amanda Hawkins | Council, District 13 |
Administrative Officials
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Joe Cantanese | Director of Constituent Services |
| Jennifer Liptak | Budget Director |
| VACANT | Council Clerk |
| Jared Barker | Director of Legislative Services |
| Stephen Zappala, Jr. | District Attorney |
| William Mullen | Sheriff |
| John Weinstein | County Treasurer |
| Mark Patrick | County Controller |
Budget
The total operating budget for 2011 is 767,692,670.[14] Of this, the majority of funds (45.8%) $351,223,455 went towards health and welfare, $162,931,313 (21.2%) went towards general government expenditures, $84,187,885 (11%) towards public safety and $73,184,355 (9.5%) towards debt service.
Stimulus
Allegheny County seat, Pittsburgh, received $348,726,152.91 in federal stimulus funds through 428 contracts and grants.[15]
Local taxes
In 2011, taxes made up 47.8% of total revenue generating $366,980,000. Real estate revenues brought in approximately $8,900,200.
In December 2008, Allegheny County reduced the alcoholic beverage tax from 10% to 7% effective January 2009. All sales of alcoholic beverages, including mixed drinks, wine and beer (opened or unopened) are taxable transactions under law, without exception. [16] The hotel occupancy tax is levied at a rate of 7% and generates general revenue for the state. Revenues generated in calendar year 2010 totaled $24,627,846.35.[17]
County In the News
- November 2011 redistricting plans will eliminate on Senate and two House districts in the Pittsburgh region, all represented by Democrats. A public hearing is set for Nov. 18 2011, and a final plan must be approved by Nov. 30. [18]
- In August 2011, the Superior Court in Pittsburgh rejected Republic state Sen. Jane Orie’s claim that it would be double jeopardy to retry her in October on charges that she misused state-funded staff to do her campaign work. [19]
Lobbying
- Main article:Pennsylvania government sector lobbying
Allegheny County has reported $2,053,000 spent lobbying since 2000. The peak year is 2005 with $431,000 spent on lobbying, although thus far, only the first quarter of 2009 is reported.
| Year | Amount spent on lobbying |
|---|---|
| 2009 | $40,000 |
| 2008 | $265,000 |
| 2007 | $213,000 |
| 2006 | $340,000 |
| 2005 | $431,000 |
| 2004 | $199,000 |
| 2003 | $195,000 |
| 2002 | $165,000 |
| 2001 | $170,000 |
| 2000 | $35,000 |
The Allegheny County Airport Authority[21] received funding for lobbying activities for all the years between 2000 and 2009, for a total of $554,000. The Allegheny County Housing Authority received lobbying funds from 2001 to 2008 and spent more on lobbying since 2000 than any other Allegheny subsidiary, totaling $620,000.
| Year | Airport Authority | Economic Development | Housing Authority | Sanitary Authority | Allegheny County, PA | Parent Allegheny County, PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | $20,000 | - | - | $20,000 | - | - |
| 2008 | $80,000 | - | $80,000 | $105,000 | - | - |
| 2007 | $73,000 | - | $60,000 | $80,000 | - | - |
| 2006 | $120,000 | $120,000 | $40,000 | $60,000 | - | - |
| 2005 | $65,000 | $120,000 | $80,000 | $40,000 | $126,000 | - |
| 2004 | $46,000 | $20,000 | $80,000 | $40,000 | - | $13,000 |
| 2003 | $75,000 | - | $80,000 | $40,000 | - | - |
| 2002 | $30,000 | - | $100,000 | $40,000 | - | - |
| 2001 | $30,000 | - | $100,000 | $40,000 | - | - |
| 2000 | $15,000 | - | - | $20,000 | - | - |
Municipalities
Cities
Boroughs
Presidential election votes
| Year | Democrat | Republican |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 57.15% 368,912 | 42.13% 271,925 |
| 2000 | 56.65% 329,963 | 40.41% 235,361 |
| 1996 | 52.82% 284,480 | 37.89% 204,067 |
| 1992 | 52.75% 324,004 | 29.80% 183,035 |
| 1988 | 59.51% 348,814 | 39.43% 231,137 |
| 1984 | 55.96% 372,576 | 42.76% 284,692 |
| 1980 | 47.87% 297,464 | 43.75% 271,850 |
| 1976 | 50.68% 328,343 | 46.79% 303,127 |
| 1972 | 42.26% 282,496 | 55.60% 371,737 |
| 1968 | 51.12% 364,906 | 37.09% 264,790 |
| 1964 | 66.03% 475,207 | 33.58% 241,707 |
| 1960 | 57.07% 428,455 | 42.76% 320,970 |
Public employee salaries
- Main article: Allegheny County employee salaries
External links
- Allegheny County government website
- Allegheny County Quest
- County Map by Municipality
- Historic Pittsburgh Map Collection
- Southwest Pennsylvania Commission
- Allegheny County Court Records
- Allegheny County Links Directory
- Fifth Judicial Court of Pennsylvania
References
- ↑ Allegheny County facts
- ↑ Allgheny County, Budgets, Accessed: December 16, 2012
- ↑ Allegheny County, Administrative officials, Accessed: December 16, 2012
- ↑ Allegheny County, Council Members, Accessed: December 16, 2012
- ↑ Allegheny County, Meetings Calendar, Agendas, Videos, and Minutes, Accessed: December 16, 2012
- ↑ Allegheny County, CAFR, Accessed: December 16, 2012
- ↑ Allegheny County, Bid opportunities, Accessed: December 16, 2012
- ↑ Allegheny County, Purchase receipts, Accessed: December 16, 2012
- ↑ Allegheny County, Public Records Request Form, Contact Information, and Fees, Accessed: December 16, 2012
- ↑ Allegheny County, Property Taxes, Accessed: December 16, 2012
- ↑ Allegheny County, Pay Taxes Online, Accessed: December 16, 2012
- ↑ Allegheny County, Government Relations, Accessed: December 16, 2012
- ↑ Allegheny County, Planning, Accessed: December 16, 2012
- ↑ Operating budget
- ↑ Stimulus funding
- ↑ Alcohol tax
- ↑ Hotel Occupancy tax
- ↑ Redistricting
- ↑ Allegations of state-funded campaigning
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Open Secrets
- ↑ Allegheny County: Boards
Portions of this article were taken from Wikipedia on 9/26/08.
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