RAD seeks public input on 2023 preliminary budget
With Allegheny County sales tax revenue still strong, RAD plans for $120.1 million impact on regional assets.
What’s next for RAD? The board of the Allegheny Regional Asset District is making its plans – and it wants your feedback.
Recently, the RAD board accepted a $120.1 preliminary budget for 2023. The spending plan follows an application and review process, through which 99 organizations were selected for funding.
The preliminary budget is available to view at RADworkshere.org. Now RAD is seeking public input about its spending plan – seeking thoughts, suggestions, changes or any other input that can improve the 2023 budget.
“We want to hear from Allegheny County residents,” said Rich Hudic, RAD executive director. “This is a process that is open to all ideas, because RAD is for everyone.”
The RAD board is currently recommending the following operating grants for its regional assets:
- $34.7 million for local libraries
- $32.4 million for regional parks and trails
- $13.2 million for arts and cultural organizations
- $8.4 million for the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, Phipps Conservatory, and National Aviary
- $14.2 million for regional sports and civic facilities
- $3 million for Pittsburgh Regional Transit
The allocations committee of the RAD board also recommended $12.6 million in capital requests to 28 organizations, $400,000 for Connection and Accessibility & Inclusion grants, and $1.2 million for general administration.
RAD is accepting public input on the 2023 preliminary budget now through November 29, when the board plans to approve its final budget. Several options are available to submit feedback:
- Email info@radworkshere.org
- Call the RAD offices by phone (412-227-1900)
- Fax a document to RAD (412-227-1905)
- Mail your feedback (Allegheny Regional Asset District, 436 Seventh Avenue, Suite 2201, Pittsburgh, PA 15219)
- Speak in-person at the RAD Public Comment Hearing -- Thursday, October 27, 2022 at 3:00 PM in the Koppers Building Conference Center, located at 436 7th Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
Registration in advance is required. RAD expects Allegheny County’s additional 1% sales tax – adopted in the mid-1990s – will provide about $240 million in 2023. Half of the sales tax revenue is distributed to the county and its 128 municipalities, while the other half works through RAD to be distributed to eligible regional assets.