THIS AFTERNOON, THE CITY COMPTROLLER PRESENTED HER VERSION OF THE FAIR SHARE TAX PROGRAM THAT SEEKS VOLUNTARY PAYMENTS FROM THE CITY’S FIVE LARGEST NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS. AS THE CONVERSATION UNFOLDS WITH VOLUNTARY PAYMENTS FROM NONPROFITS, I THINK THAT WE JUST NEED TO REMEMBER THAT CITY TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING THEIR TAX BILLS EVERY YEAR, CITY COMPTROLLER RACHEL HEISLER SAYS THE CITY’S LARGEST TAX EXEMPT INSTITUTIONS OWN MORE THAN $34 MILLION IN TAXABLE PROPERTY THAT THE CITY IS NOT COLLECTING. SHE PROPOSES VOLUNTARY PAYMENTS ANNUALLY, MONEY THAT CAN BE DESIGNATED FOR SPECIFIC NEEDS LIKE FLEET SERVICES FOR FIRST RESPONDERS, THAT THE CITY ESTABLISH A FRONTLINE FLEET TRUST FUND, AND THAT SOME DEDICATED REVENUE FROM A VOLUNTARY PAYMENT GO TOWARDS THAT. BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT THAT THE STATUS OF THE FLEET RIGHT NOW IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. UPMC SHARED THIS STATEMENT WITH PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR, QUOTE, UPMC REMAINS COMMITTED TO BEING A STRONG PARTNER IN BUILDING A VIBRANT, ACCESSIBLE, AND THRIVING PITTSBURGH. THE CITY CAN COUNT ON OUR FULL PARTICIPATION IN PROGRAMS THAT ARE FAIR AND EQUITABLE, AND INCLUDE THE REGION’S OTHER MAJOR NONPROFITS. MY HOPE IS THAT AS THE CONVERSATION AROUND VOLUNTARY PAYMENTS UNFOLDS, THAT A IT IS A VOLUNTARY PAYMENT, AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE DO WELL. WHEN THEY DO WELL AND THEY DO WELL WHEN WE DO WELL. ALSO TONIGHT, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS QUESTIONED HEISLER ON THIS IDEA, BUT NO WORD ON IF OR WHEN THIS MATTER WILL BECOME PART OF A FUTURE AGENDA. COVERING ALLEGHENY C
Pittsburgh controller revisits idea of city’s largest tax-exempt institutions making voluntary annual payments
Updated: 7:28 PM EST Nov 6, 2025
Pittsburgh City Controller Rachael Heisler presented her version of “Fair Share Taxes” to city council members Thursday.At the core of the concept, Heisler recommends that the city’s five largest tax-exempt institutions volunteer to pay a designated amount of money annually in lieu of property taxes.Heisler’s office released a statement with data to support their proposal, citing a 2022 report filed by the county and city controllers.”The report found that in 2021, nonprofits owned 20% of all property in the city, and 63% of that was owned by the “Big Five” nonprofits – UPMC, AHN, Pitt, CMU and Duquesne University. In 2021, these five nonprofits owned $4.3 billion in tax-exempt properties in the city, and if not exempt, would have paid $34.5 million in taxes to the city. The report estimated that if the city secured voluntary payments with just these five largest nonprofits that recouped 25% of their tax loss, it would generate $8.6 million in revenue for the city each year,” the statement said. There is no word on if and when the council will place the matter on future agendas.UPMC issued a statement to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4, saying, “UPMC looks forward to working in a collaborative and constructive manner with the O’Connor administration to advance the health and well-being of our communities. UPMC remains committed to being a strong partner in building a vibrant, accessible and thriving Pittsburgh. The city can count on our full participation in programs that are fair and equitable and include the region’s other major nonprofits.”
PITTSBURGH —
Pittsburgh City Controller Rachael Heisler presented her version of “Fair Share Taxes” to city council members Thursday.
At the core of the concept, Heisler recommends that the city’s five largest tax-exempt institutions volunteer to pay a designated amount of money annually in lieu of property taxes.
Heisler’s office released a statement with data to support their proposal, citing a 2022 report filed by the county and city controllers.
“The report found that in 2021, nonprofits owned 20% of all property in the city, and 63% of that was owned by the “Big Five” nonprofits – UPMC, AHN, Pitt, CMU and Duquesne University. In 2021, these five nonprofits owned $4.3 billion in tax-exempt properties in the city, and if not exempt, would have paid $34.5 million in taxes to the city. The report estimated that if the city secured voluntary payments with just these five largest nonprofits that recouped 25% of their tax loss, it would generate $8.6 million in revenue for the city each year,” the statement said.
There is no word on if and when the council will place the matter on future agendas.
UPMC issued a statement to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4, saying, “UPMC looks forward to working in a collaborative and constructive manner with the O’Connor administration to advance the health and well-being of our communities. UPMC remains committed to being a strong partner in building a vibrant, accessible and thriving Pittsburgh. The city can count on our full participation in programs that are fair and equitable and include the region’s other major nonprofits.”