RAD Board Authorizes Historic $118M Budget for 2022
With operating and capital grants awarded to 101 organizations across the county, the $118M budget will be the largest in RAD's history.
Pittsburgh, PA | November 30, 2021 — In its final meeting of 2021, the board of the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD) passed a 2022 budget of $118 million, the largest in its history. The budget authorizes $102.6M in general operating support to 101 organizations, with an additional $14.4M to support capital projects.
As organizations continue to recover and rebuild from the effects of the covid-19 pandemic, operating and capital support have never been more critical. The budget will be funded by a projected $107M in 2022 sales tax revenue, with the remainder coming from RAD’s grant stabilization reserve fund.
“Our regional assets have shown extraordinary resilience, creativity, and commitment to community,” said RAD Board Chair Dusty Elias Kirk. “We are grateful to be in position to invest so significantly in their continued endurance and vitality. The board takes the stewardship of tax dollars seriously, and we are pleased to see how impactful this source of public support has been, especially in times of great need.”
More than $7.8M in capital grants will support improvements within the region’s parks and trails.
“Given their extensive use over the past two years, we want to ensure that our parks and trails are well resourced to remain safe and open spaces for the public,” said Dan Griffin on behalf of the Allocations Committee, adding that RAD is considering 2022 “the Year of the Parks.”
The capital funding will support renovations and upgrades to playgrounds, tennis courts, walking trails, recreational facilities, shelters, and restrooms, in addition to safety and lighting enhancements within the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County’s regional parks. Renziehausen Park in McKeesport will receive capital funds to support trail extensions, new exercise equipment, and deck hockey improvements, among other things. A capital grant for Boyce Mayview Park in Upper St. Clair will support improvements at the Miracle Field accessible playground and its perimeter trail extension.
Among the 101 organizations included in RAD’s 2022 budget are four newly appointed regional assets: Brew House Association, Radiant Hall Studios, Riverlife, and Rivers of Steel Heritage Association.
As always, the region’s libraries and parks will receive the lion’s share of the funding, with a combined total of 61% of the budget. Arts and cultural organizations will receive 15%; sports and civic facilities will receive 12%; Pittsburgh Zoo, Phipps Conservatory, and the National Aviary will receive 8%; and public transit will receive 3%. RAD administration remains less than 1% of the total budget.
In addition to passing its budget for 2022, the board also authorized two final Connection Grants for 2021. Union Project will receive $80,000 to share a full-time space rental manager with Kelly-Strayhorn Theater. The space rental manager will review and manage the intake process for both organizations, manage front of house staff, and work with both organizations’ marketing teams for rental marketing materials. Additionally, Kelly Strayhorn Theater was granted $70,000 to share a coordinator position at The Alloy with Pearl Arts Dance Company. The coordinator will be responsible for program administration, curriculum development, event registration, and dance class instruction to develop talent who could potentially have opportunities to perform at various assets. Both of these projects align with RAD’s Connection Grant program, which seeks to foster cost-saving connections between regional assets and promote efficiency through structural and operational collaboration.