Pittsburgh council creates fund for controversial parks tax

More than a year after a parks tax was approved by Pittsburgh voters, council members Monday passed legislation that means the city will start to collect the tax in 2021.

“With today’s approval of the Parks Trust Fund, our city is taking another step forward in our commitment to equity in working towards a Pittsburgh for all,” Mayor Bill Peduto said after council approved creating the fund and allowing the proceeds of a 0.5-mill tax to be placed into it.

The council vote was 6-3 with council members Anthony Coghill, Deborah Gross and Corey O’Connor voting against it.

“I think this is a terrible time to be increasing millage,” Gross said, adding it would create an extra burden on homeowners and renters.

Property owners will pay an extra $50 for every $100,000 of assessed property value with the increase, which is expected to raise about $10 million each year that will be earmarked for park improvements facilities throughout the city.

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s plans call for $57.9 million spending on parks from 2021 to 2025, including $10 million on 18 parks in some of the city’s poorest neighborhoods. It also calls for about $22 million for park maintenance over six years, nearly $12 million for rehabilitation projects, $2.5 million on programming and nearly $12 million on planning, administration and contingencies.

Coghill echoed Gross and said “the timing is just not right” for the tax.

O’Connor didn’t publicly explain his decision to vote against the tax.

Council President Theresa Kail-Smith said she agreed with the spirit of Coghill and Gross’ sentiments, but she voted in favor of it because work needs to be done in the city’s parks.

“Our parks are getting more use now than they ever have,” Kail-Smith said, in part because of the coronavirus pandemic that discourages people to gather indoors.

“There are a lot of parks that need a lot of attention right now,” Kail-Smith said.

The city’s parks have been “critically important” to residents’ physical, mental and emotional health during the pandemic, Peduto said in a statement issued after the council meeting.

“Access to quality parks improves social, health, economic, educational and developmental outcomes to promote equity and environmental justice for everyone who uses our parks,” Peduto said. “This trust fund is not just an investment in our parks and infrastructure, it’s an investment in our people.”

The money will also allow the parks department to increase its staff, Kail-Smith said.

The money also will help improve “historically underinvested” parks in all city neighborhoods and “ensure every child – and adult – in Pittsburgh can get to a park by walking 10 minutes or less,” Peduto said.

Although voters approved the plan in 2019, it required the action taken by council Monday to start collecting the tax.