Pittsburgh City Council members plan to launch an independent study of the worth of Downtown's public garages as city officials weigh competing proposals to tap their value to shore up the city's wobbly pension fund.

"We want to make sure that we are picking the best option," said council President Darlene Harris, who is expected to introduce legislation to conduct the study today. "We want to make sure that there is no politics involved whatsoever. We are talking about the livelihood of the pensioneers."

The study, which might be conducted by the Government Finance Officers Association, would cost the city no more than $50,000 and could be funded by the state-picked Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority.

A vote to seek a study could happen in coming weeks, and would tighten the rope in a tug-of-war over some 18,000 spaces in garages, on lots and along streets. Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl wants to lease them to a private firm, while some on council would rather give the garages -- and maybe surface lots and parking meters -- to the city's pension fund.

There are too many legal and financial hurdles in the way of any direct transfer of the garages to the pension fund, said city finance director Scott Kunka, and talk of a study shouldn't slow progress toward a lease.

"The mayor's plan works," he said, referring to hopes that a lease can net $200 million that would boost the pension fund. "It's really our only option that's out there. And we really have to put our efforts behind making this happen."

ICA Executive Director Henry Sciortino said his agency would be willing to pay for a study and contract with the analyst. The ICA, which monitors city finances, is holding a March 17 meeting at which its board could vote to fund a study, if asked to do so.

"I think, under any of these scenarios, we're looking at increased [parking] rates," said Controller Michael Lamb, who has joined Mr. Dowd in calling for a transfer of the garages to the pension fund, instead of a lease.

Mr. Kunka said that parking garages are "not the kind of assets people keep in their pension funds." They can't be easily converted into cash, he noted, and they could subject the pension fund to liability for things like slip-and-fall accidents.

Last month, the pension fund contained $296 million, and had long-term obligations of $899 million. Those liabilities, though, are being recalculated, and Mr. Kunka said they will probably top $1 billion.

State legislation passed last year would have the commonwealth seize the city's pension fund, and eventually force higher annual contributions, unless it contains enough money to cover roughly half of its obligations by year's end.

The Pittsburgh Parking Authority's annual audit values the garages at $122 million, adding that they are burdened by $103 million in debt.

Mr. Lamb said he believes that the garages may be worth much more than their accounting value.

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