Mayor Corey O'Connor said Pittsburgh's budget will be reopened to address a looming $30 million to $40 million deficit.

Why it matters: The city raised its property taxes late last year to address budget shortfalls, but that additional revenue isn't close to covering costs.

The big picture: O'Connor told reporters yesterday he's not considering raising taxes, laying off city workers, or cutting critical services.

• Instead, the city is looking at a series of financial maneuvers — like expiring bonds and not filling vacant positions — to close the shortfall.

Reality check: The projected budget deficit is larger than the $27 million in extra revenue brought in after approving a 20% property tax increase.

What they're saying: The budget passed last year under former Mayor Ed Gainey had a lot of "false assumptions" about revenue projections, O'Connor said.

• "We knew taking this job that we were going to walk into a situation where we would have to tighten our belts. But the reality is much worse than we thought."

By the numbers: The city ended 2025 with an $8.6 million operating deficit, O'Connor said.

• Last year, Gainey predicted the city would end the year with a $3.2 million surplus.
• The rainy-day fund is shrinking at an unsustainable rate, said O'Connor. His office projects it will shrink from $160 million to $84 million within five years.

Between the lines: The city has a series of underfunded items this year, driven by rising costs in health care, fuel and inflation, O'Connor said.

• Health care costs are $9 million higher this year than initially budgeted.
• Fuel costs for the city fleet will cost $500,000 extra this year.

State of play: Overtime pay for EMS, police and other city employees is ballooning — $21 million over last year — Councilman Anthony Coghill (D-Beechview) told TribLive last month.

• With the city hosting several large events this year, overtime pay will become an even bigger concern, O'Connor said.

What's next: The budget will be reopened in the coming weeks, but O'Connor did not specify how long it might take to balance it.

Go deeper

Pittsburghers have crowned a new favorite fish fry.

The big picture: Axios Pittsburgh readers named Croatian National Hall Javor the region's best fish fry this year in a competition stacked with heavyweights.

Zoom in: Croatian National Hall Javor, founded in 1905 by Croatian immigrants as a community gathering place, has hosted its annual fish fry on the North Side since the 1980s.

• It's volunteer-run and serves as the club's biggest fundraiser, says Mary Sestric, a past board member who's still active in the event.

By the numbers: Hundreds of Axios Pittsburgh readers voted this week to narrow a field of 16 nominated fish fry spots. In the end, it came down to the Swissvale Volunteer Fire Department and Javor.

Dig in: The club has Lenten classics including baked and fried fish and shrimp, with sides like pierogies, mac and cheese, fries, Croatian coleslaw, potato salad and kids' options.

• Javor's weekly specials pack the house, Sestric says, "especially when we feature something a little different or a Croatian specialty like fish paprikas."
• "One of the things that makes our fish fry special is that a different volunteer chef leads the kitchen each week, which keeps the menu fresh and exciting," she says.
• Volunteers make traditional recipes like breskvice, or peach cookies, from scratch. "First-time visitors should definitely try the baklava or the banana cake," Sestric adds.

The intrigue: Visitors can sometimes catch live tambura bands at the hall during fish fries. Follow on social media for updates.

If you go: Open each Friday during Lent, including Good Friday, from 4:30pm-8pm.

• 📍 805 East St., North Side
• 📞 412-321-8104. Dine-in and takeout available. Cash and credit accepted.

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💰The region's five largest nonprofits — UPMC, Highmark, Pitt, CMU and Duquesne — would generate $133 million a year for Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and Pittsburgh Public Schools without existing tax exemptions, a new Keystone Research Center report finds. (TribLive)

💡Developers are pitching a mixed-use project at the former Westinghouse Research and Technology Park in Churchill. The proposal includes parks, housing, restaurants and retail. (Post-Gazette)

🛝 Frick Park is in the running for best city park in USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. Vote here!

The Academy Awards are Sunday at 7pm on ABC and Hulu. Here's how to stream the top nominated films before the red carpet rolls.

Best Picture nominees

• 🎙"Sinners" on HBO Max: Ryan Coogler's supernatural thriller starring Michael B. Jordan is the most-nominated film of all time.
• 👩‍🦲 "Bugonia" on Peacock: Emma Stone reunites with director Yorgos Lanthimos, who helped her to score Best Actress for "Poor Things."
• 🏎️ "F1" on Apple TV: This film about a struggling Formula 1 team is the fourth Best Picture nomination for star and producer Brad Pitt.
• 🍻 "One Battle After Another" on HBO Max: This year's frontrunner is Paul Thomas Anderson's fourth Best Picture nomination and first since 2021's "Licorice Pizza."
• 🏓 "Marty Supreme" on Amazon Prime Video: Josh Safdie directs Timothée Chalamet as a cunning table tennis player chasing a world championship.

Where to watch other nominees

It's green beer season.

The intrigue: Lolev Beer is bringing back its Iroh matcha lager, which means you don't have to drink cheap brews colored with food dye to enjoy.

Bottoms up: The brew is colored with matcha and described as "earthy, clean, and green for reasons that actually make sense" by Lolev.

If you go: Available tomorrow only on draft at Lolev's locations in Lawrenceville and Zelienople.