How historic overtime payments in 2025 drove up Pittsburgh’s budget

Pittsburgh spent more money than it collected in 2025 for many reasons, including lower-than-expected revenue from payroll preparation taxes and interest earnings, and the state high court striking down the city’s “jock tax.” It didn’t help, though, that the city spent $3 million more than it budgeted for payroll.

The city’s biggest cost center is compensation for its more than 3,000 employees. And city employees earned a whopping $71 million in overtime in 2025, according to pay records obtained by Pittsburgh’s Public Source. That includes payment for so-called secondary employment — moonlighting done by public safety employees, coordinated by the city but paid by entities like pro sports teams, concerts and smaller organizations that stage events.