UPMC donates $10 million to Pittsburgh to fund emergency vehicles

UPMC donated $10 million to the City of Pittsburgh to buy nine ambulances and one rescue truck, a gift officials say frees budget space for snowplow purchases after 37 plows broke down during a Jan. 26 storm.

UPMC donated $10 million to the City of Pittsburgh to purchase additional emergency vehicles following a severe winter storm. The funding will cover nine ambulances and one rescue truck, with additional equipment purchases expected in 2027. The gift arrived after 37 city snowplows broke down during the Jan. 26 storm and came amid an ongoing city budget shortfall. City leaders and community officials have discussed seeking longer-term arrangements with large nonprofits that occupy significant city property. Key facts: - UPMC donated $10 million to the City of Pittsburgh to buy nine ambulances and one rescue truck; further equipment purchases are planned for 2027. - Thirty-seven city snowplows broke down during the Jan. 26 snowstorm, highlighting aging vehicle and mechanical issues across the fleet. - Councilperson Erika Strassburger said the donation allows money already allocated to vehicles to be moved to other needs such as bridges, roads, or parks. - The city reported a roughly $20 million budget deficit in December and City Council approved a 20% property tax rate increase. - Pittsburgh’s five largest nonprofit institutions occupy about 20% of city property and are generally exempt from property tax; experts noted there is no legal obligation for UPMC to make payments to the city. - Former Mayor Ed Gainey sought a voluntary payment agreement with UPMC and other large nonprofits in March 2025, and Mayor Corey O'Connor campaigned in April 2025 on pressing major nonprofits to contribute more. Summary: The donation provides immediate resources for ambulances and a rescue truck and eases near-term pressure on the city’s vehicle budget. Officials and legal experts described the gift as a one-time contribution and said longer-term, structured agreements with large nonprofits remain an unresolved matter. Undetermined at this time.