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Controller outlines $8.8 million budget request, highlights audits and internal savings
Summary
Controller Corey O'Connor presented an $8.8 million budget request and outlined the controller's accounting, auditing and construction‑inspection work that the office says generates savings for Allegheny County.
Controller Corey O'Connor told Allegheny County Council during a Nov. 2026 budget hearing that his office seeks $8,800,000 to support 89 full‑time budgeted positions and to continue oversight of county finances and contracts.
O'Connor said the controller's office “is committed to promoting innovation, transparency, efficiency and accountability in county government,” and described the office's responsibilities: recording revenue and expenditures, overseeing contracts and administering financial reporting. He said the accounting division processes more than 3,300,00 vendor payments annually and produces the county’s annual comprehensive and popular financial reports.
The controller highlighted several operational details the office uses to reduce county costs. He said the construction inspection team reviews roughly 30 active construction projects totaling about $125,000,000 and identified approximately $350,000 in savings through oversight. The auditing division performs the county’s single audit in‑house (which O'Connor said saves roughly $100,000) and completed seven hotel audits in 2025 that found more than $107,000 owed in back taxes. O'Connor also described the rollout of a debit‑card payment option that sped payments to foster‑care and election poll‑worker vendors.
Council members asked about specific items in the controller’s request and program areas. Councilwoman Hallam asked whether an audit of the district attorney’s office was planned; O'Connor said the office previously completed a financial audit in 2023 and would discuss further audits. Several council members noted the office’s reduction in budgeted positions from 94 to 89; O'Connor said some reductions reflect cross‑training and reorganization intended to maintain services without hiring additional staff. Council members pressed on local contractor usage for county projects; O'Connor said the construction division enforces contract specifications and requires contractors to correct defects at their expense rather than charging taxpayers.
The presentation also described the controller office’s information systems work (JD Edwards) and efforts to move pay stubs online, retroactive payroll adjustments for retirement calculations and continued support for the treasurer’s selection of new banking services. O'Connor closed by thanking his deputies and staff for the work on internal audits and financial reporting.
No formal council votes were taken during the presentation; the hearing proceeded to questions for the district attorney’s office and Pittsburgh Regional Transit.
