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Mayor Peduto Submits 2017 Budgets To City Council

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Mayor Bill Peduto says it will take $539.3 million to run Pittsburgh effectively and efficiently in 2017. The Mayor released details of his budget plan Monday morning.

"The 2017 budget and five year plan provides a solid foundation for the city's future, and puts us on a long-term path to fiscal sustainability," says Peduto.

In all, the budget calls for a 3.9% increase in spending over last year. It also calls for reducing the city's debt.

"Back in 2014, almost 20% -- one in every five dollars that we spent – were dedicated to debt service," says Peduto. "Over the next five years, we will reduce the city's debt burden from 16.4% to 9.7% in 2021."

Two major areas of focus in the new budget: public safety and infrastructure.

Pittsburgh's police, firefighters and other emergency workers are a top priority. The new budget calls for an increase in funding for police vehicles to update the fleet. It also calls for continued investments in police bureau training, equipment and technology.

"Keeping our neighborhoods safe is one of the most important functions of city government, and I'm proud of the work that the men and women of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police perform every day throughout our city," says Peduto.

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The plan also allocates more than $2 million for a new, computerized emergency alert system that will allow emergency crews to be dispatched more efficiently. $12.6 million will also be set aside so critical public safety facilities can be upgraded. $15 million will be spent on resurfacing Pittsburgh's city streets.

"For the third straight year, we are increasing the budget for street resurfacing," says Peduto.

The budget also includes a $100,000 grant to come up with a comprehensive way to maintain Pittsburgh's famous city steps around town.

The Mayor also included money to improve Pittsburgh's bike lanes.

"The city's network of bike lanes will be expanded with new construction on Ellsworth Avenue… and the installation of new facilities will occur at the crossing of Baum Boulevard and Center Avenue," says Peduto.

The Mayor also addressed a new, temporary deal with Rivers Casino that will help make up a loss in revenue.

Earlier this year, the state Supreme Court struck down a law that required casinos to pay a tax to the cities in which they are located. The new, temporary deal means $10 million will continue going into city accounts through next year while lawmakers work to draft a permanent legislation.

"Without that agreement in place, this budget would have had to be drastically different," says Peduto.

The budget still has to be approved by Pittsburgh's City Council. Councilmembers are expected to discuss the budget starting on November 21st. They have until the end of December 2016 to approve the plan.

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