REPORTER SHELDON INGRAM IS GETTING ANSWERS FROM CITY OFFICIALS. WE HEAR FROM THE MAYOR’S CHIEF OF STAFF THAT SOARING GAS AND DIESEL PRICES ARE DEFINITELY IMPACTING THE CITY’S BUDGET. IT HITS US JUST LIKE IT HITS YOU AT HOME. FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE A VERY LARGE FLEET, AND YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW MUCH GAS GOES INTO A FIRE TRUCK AND AMBULANCE, POLICE CARS, DPW TRUCKS THAT ARE MOVING 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 365 DAYS A YEAR WITH LARGE GAS TANKS. SO IT HITS US DIRECTLY AT THE PUMPS. THIS IS THE BACKLASH FROM THE SOARING OIL PRICES. ALARMING GAS AND DIESEL PRICES AT THE PUMP. MAYOR COREY O’CONNER’S ADMINISTRATION SAYS THE CRISIS HAS PUT A DENT IN THE CITY’S BUDGET. CITY LEADERS ARE LEANING INTO THE CITY’S SAVINGS AND RAINY DAY FUND TO OFFSET MASSIVE INCREASES IN GAS AND DIESEL. RESIDENTS MIGHT FEEL THE IMPACT NEXT YEAR. COSTS GO UP. WE WILL PAY LESS STREETS NEXT YEAR BECAUSE IT WILL COST MORE PER MILE. IF THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS ON EVERY ROAD REPAIR PROJECT OR EVERY REC CENTER CONSTRUCTION GOES UP, WE’LL HAVE TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS WE CAN DO. WE ALSO CHECKED IN WITH PITTSBURGH REGIONAL TRANSIT. A SPOKESPERSON SAYS THAT RIDERS WILL NOT SEE A FARE INCREASE DUE TO SOARING DIESEL PRICES. THAT’S BECAUSE THE FUEL USED TODAY WAS PURCHASED MONTHS AGO AT A PRICE THAT IS NOW LOCKED
Pittsburgh’s budget is taking a hit due to soaring gas and diesel prices
Updated: 8:24 PM EDT Apr 28, 2026
Mayor Corey O’Connor’s chief of staff says the city is now leaning into its rainy day fund and savings account to offset exorbitant gas and diesel prices.National and international petroleum experts call it an oil crisis, and people are feeling the impact across the nation.In Pittsburgh, Chief of Staff Dan Gilman says what has happened has sent a jolt through the city’s financial coffers.”It hits us just like it hits you at home,” he said. “First of all, we have a very large fleet, and you can imagine how much gas goes into a fire truck, an ambulance, police cars, DPW trucks that are moving 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year with large gas tanks, so it hits us directly at the pump.”Gilman says city residents will not feel the impact this year, but he warns that the public may see the impact next year.”If gas prices go up, if paving costs go up, we will pave less streets next year because it will cost more per mile,” he said. “If construction costs on every road repair project or every recreation center construction goes up, we’ll have to reduce the number of projects we can do.”Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.
PITTSBURGH —
Mayor Corey O’Connor’s chief of staff says the city is now leaning into its rainy day fund and savings account to offset exorbitant gas and diesel prices.
National and international petroleum experts call it an oil crisis, and people are feeling the impact across the nation.
In Pittsburgh, Chief of Staff Dan Gilman says what has happened has sent a jolt through the city’s financial coffers.
“It hits us just like it hits you at home,” he said. “First of all, we have a very large fleet, and you can imagine how much gas goes into a fire truck, an ambulance, police cars, DPW trucks that are moving 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year with large gas tanks, so it hits us directly at the pump.”
Gilman says city residents will not feel the impact this year, but he warns that the public may see the impact next year.
“If gas prices go up, if paving costs go up, we will pave less streets next year because it will cost more per mile,” he said. “If construction costs on every road repair project or every recreation center construction goes up, we’ll have to reduce the number of projects we can do.”
Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.