Pittsburgh City Council considers hiring and spending freeze to avoid tax hike

With the city of Pittsburgh facing lean financial years ahead, one city council member is considering instituting partial hiring and spending freezes to avoid raising taxes.

Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith’s proposal would halt the hiring of current vacant and newly vacant positions except under certain circumstances and freeze all non-essential purchases, among other things.

The legislation also seeks to pause future grants to nonprofits, restrict non-essential travel outside the city, curb non-essential overtime except for certain departments including Public Safety and Public Works, and limit the use of city procurement cards to select departments, including Parks and Recreation, Public Safety, and Public Works.

“We need to ensure we’re being responsible stewards of taxpayer money,”