PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Parking Authority officials have started considering leasing publicly owned garages and other lots to a private firm.

According to WTAE's news exchange partners executive director David Onorato said a request for proposals to lease the authority's 11 garages and thousands of parking spaces won't be ready until next week at the earliest.

Last week Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said problems with Pittsburgh's pension fund have officials considering making up the shortfall by leasing parking operations.

The mayor's office said the pension fund should have about $900 million in it to pay current retirees and employees that will be retiring. But right now there's only about $320 million.

The Trib reported that Onorato said a long-term lease agreement would not lead to the Parking Authority's dissolution or cost existing union workers their jobs.

It's not clear how such an agreement could affect parking rates.