Pittsburgh, county reach G20 cost deal

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Pittsburgh's mayor and the Allegheny County executive have settled their differences over the costs of hosting this month's Group of 20 summit, officials say.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and County Executive Dan Onorato held separate news conferences Monday in which they disagreed over how much the Sept. 24-25 G20 summit would cost and who would pay for what. Onorato cited a $25 million figure but Ravenstahl said $16 million was the more relevant amount.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Ravenstahl Tuesday endorsed a 50-50 split of some grant funds, prompting Onorato to tell reporters, "I think the mayor and I are in agreement now."

Officials said Ravenstahl had agreed for the city to pick up $3.5 million in expenses from an Allegheny County wish list of around $8 million -- expenses the city says are most closely related to its core public safety function. The Post-Gazette said the county would get $3 million in state and federal funds to cover those costs.

"Understand, the county may have a different perspective, but this is what we're comfortable spending on the G20," Ravenstahl said shortly after the City Council approved the plan.