RAD approves record $139.7 million budget for 2024

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A strong local economy, and the resulting sales tax revenues, will drive record investments in Allegheny County’s regional assets.

The board of the Allegheny Regional Asset District – RAD – approved a $139.7 million budget on Thursday. The 2024 spending plan is more than $10 million (about 8%) higher than the current year’s budget. The majority of the grants will go to regional parks, trails and public libraries, assets that are free to the public year-round.

“We are excited to provide more funding to these places than ever before,” said Daniel J. Griffin, Chair of the RAD Board. “It’s a privilege to live in a county with so many civic treasures, and it’s our privilege as board members to consistently provide more funding to the organizations that make our region so wonderful and livable.”

RAD’s budget will be financed by an estimated $128.9 million in sales tax receipts, as well as money from grant stabilization reserve, investment and interest earnings, and general fund surplus. The county’s one percent sales and use tax, enacted in the mid-1990s, is estimated to generate $257.8 million in revenue in 2024. Half of that total will go directly to the County and its 128 municipalities for property tax relief and local government services.

“It has been a strong year for sales tax revenue here, in addition to the ‘Taylor Swift’ effect this past summer,” said Rich Hudic, RAD Executive Director. “Consumer spending in Allegheny County has been much stronger than expected. That keeps RAD fiscally strong and affords us the ability to make these important investments in the community.”

Highlights of the 2024 RAD budget include:

• A record $44.6 million to regional parks and trails, a category that includes North Park, Schenley Park, Frick Park, Boyce Park and dozens of other green spaces
  
  
• A record $40.3 million in the public libraries of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County
  
  
• A record $19 million to arts & culture institutions
  
  
• Grants to 105 total organizations – including new assets Allegheny RiverTrail Park, Balafon West African Dance Ensemble, Confluence Ballet, the Latin American Cultural Center, the Frick Environmental Center, Pittsburgh Youth Concert Orchestra, and the return of a previous regional asset: Venture Outdoors.

“This record budget solidifies RAD’s role as one of the primary supporters of regional and cultural institutions in the country,” said Dusty Elias Kirk, Vice-Chair of the RAD Board and a member of the allocations committee. “Whether you love world-class museums, beautiful parks, welcoming libraries or top-tier performing arts groups, you certainly have a regional asset to enjoy with the support of RAD.”

Capital grants totaling more than $19.5 million – also a RAD record – will make significant impacts at 33 organizations and drive local jobs throughout 2024. The majority of capital funds will support projects at parks and libraries. Other capital grants of at least $300,000 are:

• $1.5 million to Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium for security improvements, accessibility projects and public restroom upgrades
  
  
• $800,000 to Pittsburgh CLO for a roof replacement at its construction center
  
  
• $600,000 to the Heinz History Center for its HVAC replacement project
  
  
• $410,000 to the August Wilson African American Cultural Center for HVAC replacement and other equipment
  
  
• $400,000 to Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens’ Sunken Garden restoration
  
  
• $398,800 to Riverlife toward accessible mobile programming on Pittsburgh’s riverfronts
  
  
• $360,000 to Carnegie Science Center for elevator modernization
  
  
• $300,000 to The Frick Pittsburgh for accessibility improvements and climate control

The RAD Board also approved $5 million for Partnerships & Initiatives that will be designed to provide residents with more opportunities to access and experience our regional assets, and $500,000 to provide additional investments in connections, accessibility and inclusion. RAD staff will work year-round to oversee these grants, along with previously-approved grants like the Transformative Community Library Fund.

The first ever Regional Asset District budget in 1995 included $53 million in grants to 46 organizations. By comparison, RAD’s 2024 budget is over $139.7 million with grants to 105 organizations.

The full RAD 2024 budget can be viewed here.

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Journalists with questions can contact RAD Communications Manager James Santelli at js@radworkshere.org.