The Allegheny County Council is the fifteen-member legislative body that governs Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Thirteen members are elected from geographic districts, and two are elected countywide as at-large representatives. The council writes county ordinances, confirms the County Executive’s appointments, and approves the annual budget, which is recommended at roughly $1.2 billion for 2026.1Allegheny County. 2026 Comprehensive Fiscal Plan It was created under the Home Rule Charter voters approved in 1998 and took effect on January 1, 2000, replacing the old Board of County Commissioners and separating lawmaking from the executive branch.2County of Allegheny, PA. Chapter C Charter
Who Serves on the Council
The November 2025 elections brought several new members. Kathleen Madonna-Emmerling, Lissa Geiger Shulman, and Aaron Adams won open district seats, and Mike Embrescia replaced Sam DeMarco III in an at-large seat. Bethany Hallam continues in the other at-large seat.3Allegheny County, PA. Council Members Patrick Catena of District 4 serves as Council President, and John Palmiere of District 6 serves as Vice President.
Based on the most recently available county roster, the thirteen district members are:
- District 1: Jack Exler
- District 2: Suzanne Fillaggi
- District 3: Anita Prizio
- District 4: Patrick Catena (Council President)
- District 5: Dan Grzybek
- District 6: John Palmiere (Vice President)
- District 7: Nicholas Futules
- District 8: Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis
- District 9: Robert J. Macey
- District 10: DeWitt Walton
- District 11: Paul Klein
- District 12: Robert J. Palmosina
- District 13: David Bonaroti
Because three district seats changed hands in November 2025, specific assignments above may have shifted. The county maintains a current roster with contact information for every sitting member.3Allegheny County, PA. Council Members
Districts and At-Large Seats
The county is divided into thirteen districts, each drawn to hold roughly equal populations. Boundaries are redrawn after each federal census, and in late 2023 the council approved its most recent redistricting commission to carry out that process following the 2020 Census.4Allegheny County. County Council Two at-large members are elected by every voter in the county, giving them a countywide perspective on issues like public transit and multi-district infrastructure.
If you are not sure which district you live in, the county publishes an interactive map on its Council Districts page where you can search by address.5Allegheny County, PA. Council Districts
What the Council Does
The council’s authority comes from Article IV of the Home Rule Charter, which vests it with all of the legislative powers that once belonged to the Board of County Commissioners.2County of Allegheny, PA. Chapter C Charter The core responsibilities include:
- Adopting the county’s annual operating and capital budgets. Every dollar of county spending flows through council approval, and 2026 revenues and expenditures are recommended at approximately $1.2 billion.1Allegheny County. 2026 Comprehensive Fiscal Plan
- Passing ordinances and resolutions on matters ranging from public health regulations to land use.
- Confirming the County Executive’s appointments to boards, commissions, and authorities.
- Conducting oversight, including the power to launch investigations and compel witnesses through subpoena.6County of Allegheny. Allegheny County Code – Article XIII General Provisions
The council does not run day-to-day county operations. Under the charter’s separation of powers, that work belongs to the County Executive. The council sets policy and controls the purse strings; the executive carries the policy out.
Most detailed work happens in standing committees before a bill reaches the full body. Committees cover areas such as Budget and Finance, Health, Public Safety, Human Services, Economic Development and Job Creation, Housing and Homelessness, Parks, Public Works, and Government Reform, among others.7Allegheny County. Allegheny County Council Committees If you care about a particular issue, tracking the relevant committee is often more useful than following full council meetings alone.
Terms, Elections, and a Pending Ballot Question
Members serve four-year terms, with elections staggered so that not every seat is on the ballot in the same year.4Allegheny County. County Council As of mid-2026, there are no term limits for council members. The County Executive is limited to three consecutive four-year terms under the charter, but that restriction has never applied to the legislative branch.
That could change. In April 2026 the council approved a bill placing a question on the November 2026 ballot asking voters whether a three-term limit should apply to council members, the County Executive, and other independently elected county officials, effective January 1, 2027.8Allegheny County, PA. File 13808-26 If voters approve it, council members would be capped at twelve years of continuous service.
Meetings and Public Comment
Regular meetings are held twice a month on Tuesdays at 5:00 p.m. in the Gold Room on the fourth floor of the Allegheny County Courthouse, 436 Grant Street, Pittsburgh. Meetings are open to the public, and archived video is posted through the county’s Granicus portal.9Allegheny County, PA. Allegheny County Council – Video Archive
County residents and taxpayers can address the council during public comment. The rules to know before you show up:10Allegheny County, PA. Request to Comment
- Submit a Request to Comment form at least 24 hours before the meeting. You can file online, by phone, or by delivering a paper form in person, by mail, or by fax.
- Each speaker gets three minutes.
- Comments on specific agenda items are heard at the start of the meeting; general comments are heard at the end.
- If three minutes is not enough, you may submit written materials to the clerk within 24 hours after the meeting.
- Anyone under eighteen must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
How to Contact Your Council Member
The Council’s office is located at the Allegheny County Courthouse at 436 Grant Street in Pittsburgh, and the official county website lists phone and email contacts for each member. The interactive district map lets you search by address to identify your representative and pull up their contact details.5Allegheny County, PA. Council Districts
Running for a Seat
Qualifications for council candidates come from Article III, Section 1.3-304 of the Home Rule Charter.11County of Allegheny, PA. Article III Form of Government Elected Officers – Section 1.3-304 The requirements are:
- You must have been a registered voter in Allegheny County for at least one year before the election.
- For a district seat, you must have lived in that district for at least one year before the election.
- Once elected, you must remain a voter and resident of your district throughout your term. If redistricting places your home outside the new boundaries, you can finish your current term.
The charter does not set a separate minimum age for council members the way it requires the County Executive to be at least twenty-five. Because Pennsylvania requires voters to be at least eighteen, the practical floor is eighteen, but that comes from state voter registration law rather than the charter.11County of Allegheny, PA. Article III Form of Government Elected Officers – Section 1.3-304 Section 1.3-306 also prohibits elected officers from holding incompatible public offices or county employment while serving, and violations can lead to removal.
The job pays $10,939 a year. A charter amendment approved by voters in November 2023 converted the pay from a per-meeting stipend, capped at the same dollar figure, into a flat annual salary, and it capped future increases at no more than five percent every five years. The pay reflects a role structured as part-time civic service, even though the budget authority and policy decisions involved are substantial.