Save Our Services – Invest 2.2 Now!
We are calling on all pf our supporters to contact their Allegheny County Council representative today and tell them to SAY YES on 2.2.
While we understand no one wants to raise taxes, this small increase in a homeowner’s annual tax bill will make an unbelievable difference in the lives of over 25,000 residents of Allegheny County that would no longer be able utilize the services provided by DHS as soon as January 1, 2025
Without a 2.2 Millage Increase…
- DHS will lose up to $137 million annually.
- Human Services are primarily supported through state and federal funds which the County is required to “match.” Every $1 in reduced County funding requires an approximate $5 overall cut to the DHS budget. For example, only a 1 millage tax increase would require a $27M reduction in County funding for Human Services. That reduced funding leaves money on the table from state and federal sources and would result in an overall cut to the DHS budget of $137M. In addition, the county has been underfunded for a long time. Last year alone, there was a $135 million deficit and an $84 million deficit in 2023. Now that COVID relief funds that plugged those budget holes have dried up, the County will have to make significant cuts unless there is a budget increase.
- Over 25,000 people will lose vital support services such as housing, food and shelter.
- This will overwhelmingly impact women with children, seniors, people who are homeless, foster youth, families working hard for low wages and many more of our neighbors.
- Fully Cut-
- Family Centers offering basic needs support and evidence-based home visiting for more than 16,000 families with children.
- Specialized services for more than 1,600 at-risk families with new babies offered through the Hello Baby program, including nearly 650 families who face significant challenges and need intervention to help them move from crisis to stability.
- Out of school programs for more than 5,700 youth.
- Independent living programs like the 412YouthZone that serve more than 1,000 former foster, homeless, and older youth at risk of homelessness.
- Gun violence prevention and intervention programs serving more than 400 of our highest risk youth.
- Significant Cuts-
- Emergency shelter for more than 800 youth and families and more than 3,400 adults annually.
- Rental assistance to prevent evictions for more than 6,500 residents.
- Home delivered meals for more than 3,600 seniors.
- Senior Centers serving more than 11,000 clients.
- KidsVoice legal representation for more than 2,200 children and youth with dependency (child welfare) cases.
- Behavioral health services that insurance or Medicaid doesn’t cover for more than 9,000 people.
- Thousands of people will lose jobs.
- Programs DHS would cut currently rely upon approximately 100 DHS staff and more than 150 service providers (themselves employing hundreds of staff) who are likely to be impacted by these potential reductions. County layoffs could occur before the end of the fiscal year
How can you make an impact to have County Council pass the County Executive budget and protect the incredibly vital services for our neighbors in need?
- Call or email your County Council Member to say that you are in favor of the budget. See links below for council directory and sample call and emails.
- Share our social media posts to get your friends and neighbors to call or email as well.
Links: