(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – This April 2, 2021, file photo shows bridges spanning the Allegheny River in downtown Pittsburgh. Republicans in Congress are making the politically brazen bet that it’s more advantageous to oppose President Joe Biden’s ambitious rebuild America agenda than to lend support for the costly $2.3 trillion undertaking for roads, bridges and other infrastructure investments. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The administration of Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor says steps are needed to avoid a budget crisis in the Steel City, and he plans to announce that he is ready to reopen the city budget to make serious cuts. The Pittsburgh City Council voted to increase property taxes by 20% just before Christmas, but the O’Connor administration believes the city is still in financial trouble and a thousand cuts are needed to avoid layoffs and future tax increases. The city is still operating at a deficit even with an extra $27 million in new revenues. The O’Connor administration believes the former administration underfunded and under-estimated costs. O’Connor has scheduled a press conference for today to reopen the budget and begin making the necessary cuts.