After Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato received $19.9 million in state gaming revenues late last year, County Council members accused him of failing to inform them about revenue they deemed essential to their budget-making.

Now, County Council is debating an ordinance that would compel Mr. Onorato to notify council when the county receives gaming revenues and say how he plans to use the money. The county could get $150 million over the next 10 years to offset airport debt.

"We want to know where the money is coming from and where [Mr. Onorato] expects to use money that is coming into the county," said Councilman Chuck McCullough.

Mr. McCullough, R-Upper St. Clair, is lead sponsor of a bill that would "provide a uniform mechanism for accepting and disbursing revenues provided to the county."

Co-sponsors of the bill, currently under consideration in council's Budget and Finance Committee, are Council President Rich Fitzgerald, D-Squirrel Hill, and members Matt Drozd, R-Ross, Vince Gastgeb, R-Bethel Park, Jan Rea, R-McCandless, Michael Finnerty, D-Scott, Joan Cleary, D-Brentwood, Bob Macey, D-West Mifflin, and William Russell Robinson, D-Hill District.

The dustup between Mr. Onorato and council arose in the wake of a Dec. 31 payment, the first installment from a slots-financed state economic development fund. The money was earmarked for the Allegheny County Airport Authority to pay down debt at Pittsburgh International Airport, but Mr. Onorato used it to reimburse the county for its contribution toward construction of the new terminals 16 years ago.

He then used the money to cover a shortfall in the 2007 budget.

Several council members said Mr. Onorato did not give them proper notice of the county's receipt of the money, something they said would have been a critical factor in their approval or rejection of two new levies last year. Council approved a new 10 percent alcoholic drink tax and a $2-per-day car rental tax to raise about $30 million as the county's subsidy of the Port Authority.

Appearing before council for his State of the County address last month, Mr. Onorato said he regretted not notifying council as soon as he confirmed the money was in county coffers, but also took credit for pursuing and receiving the $19.9 million.

"The interpretation that some people are giving to the gaming monies we received and how they should be used is not correct," said Mr. Robinson, chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee.

"This bill is an attempt to give clarification to the gaming legislation and how money from gaming was supposed to be used," he said.

Mr. Onorato yesterday declined to comment on the council bill.

"It's our understanding that council is still discussing that ordinance, including possible changes. We're not going to comment on it until it's in final form," said county spokesman Kevin Evanto.