donate

Defending the Pittsburgh area taxpayers and businesses against the burdensome taxation and regulation of Big Government

learn more

Mission Statement

The Allegheny Institute is a non-profit research and education organization. Our mission is to defend the interests of taxpayers, citizens and businesses against an increasingly burdensome and intrusive government. To that end, we will formulate and advocate public policies that roll back the size and scope of local government as well as create a more accountable government. Our efforts will be guided by the principles of free enterprise, property rights, civil society and individual freedom that are the bedrock upon which this nation was founded.

Gov. Shapiro should know better

The Associated Press reported — erroneously, it turns out — that Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro “remains steadfast” that there will be no state money available to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles to build new stadiums when their current leases expire. What a shame. Both for The AP’s error and...
read more

Latest from AI

The ‘delusive sophism’ of inclusionary zoning
Proposal to redirect liquor tax revenue misguided
PRT is not a ‘public good’
Ignorant government rides again
An update on PRT
A refreshing U.S. Open economic impact point of order

Accomplishments

Action Steps

We continue to offer our policy prescriptions for fixing what ails the county. We released briefs regarding lowering government costs, fixing Pittsburgh Regional Transit and fixing inaccurate property assessments. In addition, we benchmarked Allegheny County’s performance on issues such as spending, revenues and staffing with four similar counties across the country. Most recently, in Policy Brief Volume 24, Number 1, the following ideas are shared, “What the city should not do...
all accomplisments

Right To Work

The differences in employment gains across states are stunningly enormous. This analysis looks closely at five states that have fared less well than the nation and five that performed better. The group that has lagged the national rate of improvement includes Pennsylvania; New York; California; Massachusetts and Illinois. The better-than-national group includes Florida, Texas, Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina. Note that the first set of states are non-Right-to-Work states (NRTW)...
all accomplisments

Gaming Industry

Gaming should not be relied upon to solve any budget problems. The commonwealth’s leaders still need to keep expenditures in check and create a more business-friendly environment, which will lead to a more prosperous economy for everyone. Stimulus money from COVID has, or is about to, run its course. Relying on it was a mistake. That practice just boosted spending above levels that can be sustained—absent faster economic growth or higher...
all accomplisments

COVID Lockdown/Aftermath

Our analyses of the Turnpike Commission, the Port Authority of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh International Airport and the Regional Asset District showed how the lockdown affected each entity’s operations and the challenges they face going forward.  As the pandemic ended, we maintained our vigilance in keeping governments, and their agencies, accountable to the taxpayer.  Our analysis of the area’s economy and employment picture notes the difficulties that lie ahead. We will...
all accomplisments

Pittsburgh International Airport

Our analyses of the Pittsburgh International Airport shows how the lockdown affected the entity’s operations and the challenges it faces going forward. PIT has experienced a very weak 23 years since the turn of the century and the loss of its major hub carrier in the early 2000s. Even after the hub loss impact, enplanements at PIT continued to slide through 2010, remained below 4 million a year until a...
all accomplisments

Vacancy Rates

We continue to document the struggles with downtown Pittsburgh’s vacancy rate as workers are slow to return to the office.  The sluggish economy, Pittsburgh’s poor business climate, and crime will continue to weigh on the office market vacancy rate.  This will become a more pressing issue as building owners begin to appeal their property assessments and school, city and county property tax revenues begin to fall.  Follow the situation in...
all accomplisments

Policy Briefs

Proposal to redirect liquor tax revenue misguided

vol25
No: 21

The stated intent of recently proposed legislation (H.B. 985) is to divert liquor tax revenue to provide grants to municipalities with tax-exempt property comprising 15 percent or more of total assessed value and with household median income of less than 115 percent of the state level. While the intent appears to be useful, the implementation and constraints of the proposed legislation pose many problems.  Many of the problems are rooted in the fact that Pennsylvania does not mandate a regular schedule of property assessments.

download pdf
all policies

An update on PRT

vol25
No: 20

To address a $100 million budget deficit in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26, Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) has proposed service cuts and a fare increase.  Concurrently, PRT is hoping that the commonwealth’s upcoming budget will provide more funding for mass transit.  In doing so, PRT would avoid the proposed changes but more funding without reforms won’t address PRT’s costs.

download pdf
all policies

Colin Mcnickle At Large

Gov. Shapiro should know better

The Associated Press reported — erroneously, it turns out — that Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro “remains steadfast” that there will be no state money available to the Pittsburgh Steelers and...
read more

The ‘delusive sophism’ of inclusionary zoning

Pittsburgh City Council is continuing to debate which “inclusionary zoning” proposal should be adopted in its quest for “affordable housing.” Talk about a false choice in this perverted exercise in...
read more

PRT is not a ‘public good’

In a lengthy and imploring editorial, a local newspaper claims that restoring state transit funding “isn’t a bailout” but “an investment in a public good.” “Transit is a public good,...
read more

Op-Ed

A misguided proposal to redirect liquor tax revenue

vol25
No: 21

The stated intent of Pennsylvania House Bill 985 is to divert liquor tax revenue to provide grants to municipalities with tax-exempt property comprising 15 percent or more of total assessed value and with household median income of less than 115 percent of the state level.

But, “While the intent appears to be useful, the implementation and constraints of the proposed legislation pose many problems,” says Jake Haulk, president-emeritus of the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy (in Policy Brief Vol. 25, No. 21).

download pdf
all volumes

Again, PRT, first help thyself

vol25
No: 20

As state budget negotiations come down to the June 30 wire and transit agencies across the commonwealth continue to lobby for the most taxpayer bailout money they can secure, we’ve repeatedly heard, and read, that Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) can’t cut its way out of its latest fiscal “crisis.”

download pdf
all volumes

In The News

Will the NFL Draft deliver? Pittsburgh’s projected windfall faces scrutiny
With an official countdown clock on the North Shore ticking down the days until Pittsburgh hosts next year’s NFL Draft, local officials are betting big on the three-day event.
read more
all news
As Pittsburgh confronts affordable housing crisis, mayor touts successes but data shows shortfalls
For months on the campaign trail, Mayor Ed Gainey has trumpeted claims of aggressively attacking Pittsburgh’s affordable housing crisis in ways no mayor has in decades.
read more
all news
Proposed Pa. minimum wage hike is bitter pill for many business owners
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposal to raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage by more than 100% — from $7.25 to $15 an hour — is being panned by area business owners.
read more
all news

Blog

Pittsburgh’s finances a cause for concern

The city controller presented Pittsburgh’s 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report on May 1, summarizing results from 2024 while expressing concerns over the financial future of the city. Looking at the...
read more

PRT Version 2.0?

A co-sponsorship memorandum presented by an Allegheny County state senator would “foster the creation [sic] a regional, multi-county transit authority” in southwestern Pennsylvania.  It is an idea that has been...
read more

PRT’s doomsday scenario

On March 20 Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s (PRT) Planning and Stakeholder Relations Committee considered an “Authorization to Proceed to Public Comment Period for Fiscal Year 2026 Fare Increases and Service Reductions.”...
read more

Pittsburgh’s 2024 Finances: A Review

ByAllegheny Institute |

Skill Games

ByAllegheny Institute |

PRT’s Doomsday Scenario

ByAllegheny Institute |

Pittsburgh’s Charitable Challenges

ByAllegheny Institute |

Tolls for the turnpike: how much longer?

ByAllegheny Institute |

Pittsburgh’s 2025 Budget

ByAllegheny Institute |

Insights that Speak to You

  • 305 Mt. Lebanon Blvd. Suite 208
    Pittsburgh, PA 15234
  • Telephone: (412) 440-0079
    Fax: (412) 440-0085
  • aipp@alleghenyinstitute.org
“Allegheny Institute’s research, education and advocacy work to defend taxpayers and businesses against the burdensome taxation, inefficiency and intrusiveness of an ever expanding government.”
Twitter
© 2025 | Allegheny Institute. All rights reserved | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Sitemap
Marketing Solutions by Midstream Marketing