Allegheny Regional Asset District

The Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD) is a special purpose unit of local government in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Its physical boundaries are the same as those of Allegheny County, and include the City of Pittsburgh. The district was authorized by an act of the Pennsylvania Legislature (Act 77 of 1993). It provides grants from half of the proceeds of the 1% Allegheny County Sales and Use Tax.

The County levied the tax in March 1994 and every municipal government in Allegheny County voted to participate in its benefits. 25% of the funds go directly to the County and 25% goes to the other municipal governments based on a formula weighted to help distressed communities. The proceeds are used to help shift the tax burden away from property taxes and for municipal functions such as road repair and police protection. Municipal funds do not go through the RAD Board; they are distributed directly to the municipalities from the Commonwealth. The remaining 50% is distributed by RAD.

RAD grants are distributed to civic, cultural and recreational entities, libraries, parks and sports facilities. The distribution is made by a Board of Directors composed of four persons appointed by the County Chief Executive, two appointed by the Mayor of Pittsburgh and one person elected by the six appointees. The six appointees serve terms concurrent with the appointing authority while the seventh member serves for two years. The Board also appoints a 27-person Advisory Board to provide public input and comment on policies and procedures.

The District's annual budget process ends with the adoption of a budget in December for the following calendar year. Each proposed allocation requires the support of six members. All meetings and votes of the Board are conducted under the provisions of [http://webpages.charter.net/gdsbmmllp/sunshine.htm Pennsylvania's Sunshine Act] which requires public meetings and opportunities for public comment.

For 2008, the District adopted an $83.4 million budget; about 31% of the funding went to libraries, 30% to parks, trails and other green spaces, 17% to the stadiums and arena, 11% to special facilities (Zoo, Aviary, Phipps Conservatory,and Convention Center), and 10% to art and cultural organizations. Less than 1% was budgeted for administration.

These entities are known as "contractual assets" and receive guaranteed funding for a period of five years (2005-2009). Their total RAD funding for 2008 is about $60 million:

*Allegheny County Library Association
*Allegheny County – [http://www.alleghenycounty.us/parks/ Regional Parks]
*Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
*Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
*City of McKeesport – Regional Park: Renziehausen Park Rose Garden and Arboretum
*City of Pittsburgh – Regional Parks: Frick Park, Schenley Park, Highland Park, Riverview Park
*The National Aviary in Pittsburgh
*Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
*Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

This entity is known as a "multi-year asset" which has been guaranteed funding for more than one year. Its RAD funding for 2008 is about $14 million:
* [http://www.pgh-sea.com/ The Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County]

Each year, other entities can submit applications for funding. Usually about 75-85 of them receive it. The total RAD funding for this group for 2008 is about $9 million, over two-thirds of which goes to large, well-established organizations in the region, such as:
* Allegheny Land Trust
* August Wilson Center for African American Culture
* Children's Museum of Pittsburgh
* David L. Lawrence Convention Center
* Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania
* Manchester Craftsmen's Guild
* Pittsburgh Ballet Theater
* Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera
* Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
* Pittsburgh Filmmakers
* Pittsburgh Opera
* Pittsburgh Public Theater
* Pittsburgh Symphony Society
* Pittsburgh Youth Ballet
* River City Brass Band
* Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall
* Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
* WQED MultimediaThe balance goes to smaller organizations, mainly musical and theater groups.

References

* [http://www.radworkshere.org/ RAD web site]