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Mayor’s Office Staff Present FY2026 Budget; Council Members Press on Transfers, Cuts and Tax Stance
Summary
Mayor’s office staff outlined FY2026 staffing and spending changes — including position transfers that reduced the mayor’s office headcount and about $1.7 million in personnel savings — and faced council questions about 311’s move to OMB, professional-services reductions, and whether the budget requires a tax increase.
Pittsburgh — Staff for Mayor Gainey’s office laid out the mayor’s office portion of the proposed FY2026 budget at a City Council hearing, describing personnel transfers that reduced the mayor’s office headcount and one-time spending draws that account for much of the aggregate decrease.
The budget director told council members there will be a total of 14 full-time positions in the mayor’s office in FY2026, 25 fewer than in 2025, and that personnel costs decreased by about $1.7 million. Non-personnel spending was reported down roughly $1,180,000, including $855,000 less for professional and technical services, $300,000 less for property services and about $360,000 less for printing and binding.
“There is a total of 14 full time positions in the 2026 general fund for the mayor's office. That is, 25 less than in 2025,” the budget director said during the presentation.
Much of the reduction reflected transfers of staff into operational departments rather than layoffs, staff told council. Several council members pressed staff for clarification about the transfers, pointing to an apparent discrepancy in position counts and asking where specific functions would live going forward.
Councilmember Wilson asked why 311 was proposed to move into the Office of Management and Budget. Deputy Chief Felicity Williams said the move responds to an operational focus: “As that has evolved over time and it has grown, it makes sense to place that 311 team within the Office of Management and Budget,” she said, arguing the change better integrates 311 into day-to-day operations.
Staff described other cuts as largely the result of completed or one-time commitments, such as a large multiyear contribution to the Pittsburgh Regional Disparity Study. On that point Williams explained why professional services expenditures fall sharply in the mayor’s office budget in FY2026: the city’s large contribution to that study had been budgeted in prior years and the new preliminary budget does not include a comparable out-year contribution.
On whether the proposed budget requires a tax increase, chief budget staff said Mayor Gainey had presented a budget that “delivers the core services for the city, avoids layoffs and avoids a tax increase.” They added staff remain open to discussions with council leadership if the body chooses a different path that would require additional cuts or new revenue.
Several council members said the hearing felt unusual without the mayor present. Councilman Charley asked, “What are we to make … the mayor breaking the precedent of showing up to be at his own budget hearing?” Deputy Chief Williams replied that the mayor is the city’s CEO and staff who lead the office (she and Kyle Cinnilompoli) were functioning as the appropriate representatives for the hearing.
The hearing recessed after closing remarks and a motion by council members to recess was carried by voice vote.
What happens next: Council will continue its budget review process in subsequent hearings; staff said they are available to meet with council leadership on policy or code changes that may be necessary as the preliminary budget moves toward adoption.
