PA DCED: New Date Selected for Pittsburgh's Act 47 Public Hearing

News provided by

Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development

Nov 05, 2012, 11:19 ET

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary C. Alan Walker announced today that the public hearing regarding Pittsburgh's Act 47 status will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 8, at the City Council Chambers, 414 Grant St., Pittsburgh.

The previously scheduled hearing was postponed due to the governor's declaration of a state of emergency.

"The department's goal under Act 47 is to help fiscally distressed municipalities restore financial stability," Walker said. "With this as our charge, we look forward to receiving testimony at the public hearing."

DCED scheduled a special meeting to hear testimony presented on behalf of the City of Pittsburgh with respect to the request from the Act 47 coordinator to consider a rescission of the city's Act 47 status. The department will gather information on the City of Pittsburgh's financial condition and whether the conditions that led to the original distress declaration have been alleviated.

At the hearing, testimony on the city's current and projected fiscal condition will be received from city council, city administration, the Act 47 coordinator, the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, and other interested parties. Individuals wanting to provide comment will need to register at the hearing. Written testimony may also be submitted to the hearing panel.

Individuals requiring special accommodations to attend the hearing should contact DCED at 1-888-223-6837 at least three days prior to the hearing.

Pittsburgh was designated as a distressed municipality under the guidelines of Act 47 on Dec. 29, 2003.

For more information on the resources available for local governments experiencing financial distress, or additional information on Act 47, visit www.newPA.com or call 1-866-466-3972.

Media contact: Steve Kratz, 717-783-1132

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development