A group pushing for the city of Pittsburgh to annex Wilkinsburg borough has officially initiated the process.
The Wilkinsburg Community Development Corp., a nonprofit economic development organization spearheading the annexation efforts, submitted a petition in support of the measure to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas last week, marking the next step forward in the annexation process.
If the court approves, the measure would then head to Pittsburgh City Council for approval, before appearing on the ballot as a referendum for Wilkinsburg residents to vote on in the spring.
This is the second time the WCDC has circulated a petition but the first time it has taken the next step to submit the document in court. The group put its efforts on hold last July in order to allow for more time for public input.
Now, with more than 1,000 Wilkinsburg residents signing their support on the petition submitted Friday, the WCDC surpassed the required number of signatures to move forward.
According to state annexation law, the group would need to collect signatures from 5% of registered voters.
In the 2020 general election, the Allegheny County Elections Division recorded there were about 13,000 registered voters in Wilkinsburg. That means the petition would need roughly 650 signatures.
From Sept. 30 to Dec. 4, the WCDC collected 1,254 signatures of registered voters, according to the court filing.
On paper, the WCDC has support for annexation but, based on comments at recent Pittsburgh City Council hearings, residents and lawmakers are still divided.
Advocates of the merger argue that it would boost Pittsburgh’s population, provide more options for schools for students in both municipalities, improve the quality and accessibility of public services for Wilkinsburg residents and reduce taxes for property owners and businesses.
But critics say Pittsburgh’s public services are already stretched thin and the city can’t accommodate such a quick population boost. And, Wilkinsburg could lose some autonomy: A merger would dissolve the office of mayor and borough council.
Of Wilkinsburg Borough Council members, six opposed the annexation while two were in support. Following the current process, the Wilkinsburg Borough Council will not vote on the measure.
Pittsburgh City Council members are mostly still hesitant to express support or disapproval, asking instead for more information about things like the budget for the Wilkinsburg school district and vacant properties in the borough.
If the court approves the petition, Pittsburgh City Council has three months to determine whether it will advance the measure.
The annexation would then be put to a vote for Wilkinsburg residents. Pittsburgh residents will not vote on the measure.
The WCDC said it hopes the referendum will appear on the ballot in the primary election in spring 2022.
Lauren Rosenblatt: lrosenblatt@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1565.
First Published: December 14, 2021, 6:03 p.m.