For a comprehensive list of Allegheny County departments and services, see the county website:  alleghenycounty.us

Allegheny County voters approved the adoption of  a Home Rule Charter in 1998, and the charter took effect in January of 2000.  The charter replaced the county commissioner system defined in the PA Constitution.   Allegheny County now has an Executive Branch headed by a County Executive and a Legislative Branch  with a 15-member County Council.  Several other elected offices listed in the PA Constitution were consolidated to create 4 "row offices" instead of 10.  The Home Rule Charter gave citizens the ability to initiate county-wide referendums and ballot questions.

You can read the Allegheny County Home Rule Charter here:  Allegheny Co. Home Rule Charter   

The County Executive is the highest elected official in the county and heads the executive branch of Allegheny County government.  The county executive is responsible for representing the county in meetings and negotiations, controlling and being accountable for departments, enforcing ordinances and law, making appointments, submitting a comprehensive fiscal plan, making appointments, negotiating and signing contracts, appointing a county manager and solicitor, submitting legislation, declaring states of emergency, calling special meetings, and giving quarterly addresses and an annual state of the county report to council.

The county executive is elected to a 4-year term, with a term limit of 3 consecutive terms.  

Allegheny County Council is made up of 15 members, and functions as the legislative branch of Allegheny County government.  13 county council members are elected by district, and 2 are elected "at large" (county-wide.). The two, at large members must be from different political parties.  In the municipal election, any political party may nominate a candidate for an at large seat.  Voters may vote for one, and the top two vote-getters are elected. 

County Council is a part-time position.  Regular meetings are held twice a month in the evenings.  Members do not receive a salary, or funding for an office or staff.  Instead they receive a stipend of about $11,000.   Members typically hold a different full-time job. 

The County Council is led by a President and Vice President selected by the body. All members serve on several standing committees. The President can also form special committees on specific issues or interests.

What County District do You Live in?  See the map here:   County Council District Map 

What Do the Row Officers Do?

Controller: The Controller maintains proper accounting records and processes, pays county bills, manages payroll and retirement benefits, performs internal audits for departments, and prepares the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.

District Attorney:  The District Attorney is the Chief Law Enforcement Office, accepting and prosecuting criminal charges from more than 100 active police departments, as well as approving complaints filed by private citizens.

Sheriff: The Sheriff is responsible for Courtroom security and maintaining custody of incarcerated defendants who are required to appear before the Courts in such matters as arraignments, motions, pleas, trials, sentences and appeals.

Treasurer: The Treasurer receives, invests, disburses and safeguards the monies of the county; the office collects real estate tax, the alcoholic beverage tax, the hotel room rental tax, and the vehicle rental tax, and administers the Senior Tax Relief Program.

County Manager:  The County Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the county’s departments. The county has a total budget of $3 billion and more than 6,000 employees.

County Solicitor:  The County Solicitor handles the civil legal matters of county government and represents all county departments in the executive branch. This includes thousands of cases each year at every level of government, and before administrative agencies.  The department also negotiates, monitors, and administers 24 collective bargaining agreements covering over 5,000 employees and provides contracted legal services to the Housing Authority.

Public Boards, Commissions and Authorities manage a lot of crucial infrastructure and services in Allegheny County.  Board members are appointed by elected officials. The make-up of these boards varies, and many have seats reserved for appointments by county, state and/or municipal officials. Board and Commission members serve without pay.

It is the job of the County Executive to appoint board or commission members to seats reserved for Allegheny County.  The appointments must be approved by the County Council.  

Here are a few examples:

• Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) has 7 members.  
  • 3 are appointed by Allegheny County
  • 3 are appointed by the City of Pittsburgh
  • 1 is appointed jointly by Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.

  
  

• Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) - (formerly, PAT Transit) has 11 members.   
  • 6 are appointed by the County Executive,
  • 4 are appointed by leaders of both parties in the state legislature
  • 1 is appointed by the Governor of Pennsylvania

   

• Allegheny County Airport Authority - manages the Pittsburgh International Airport and Allegheny County Airport. It has 9 members.
  • 7 are appointed by Allegheny County
  • 1 is appointed by Beaver County
  • 1 is appointed by West Mifflin (home of the Allegheny County Regional Airport)
    

See a comprehensive list of Public Boards, Commissions and Authorities with the Board Explorer Tool at Public Source:

Board Explorer