Financial Oversight for the City of Philadelphia


PICA provides independent oversight of Philadelphia’s finances to promote long-term fiscal stability and accountability. Explore our publications to access reports, analyses, and financial reviews that inform policy and guide decision-making.

Newest PICA Publications

  • 5 Wishes for the FY27-31 5YP

    As the City of Philadelphia prepares its FY27–31 Five-Year Financial Plan, PICA outlines five recommendations to strengthen the Plan’s transparency and accuracy and to improve the City’s fiscal condition. These include maintaining reserves and pension funding commitments, scoping initiatives more accurately, ensuring an adequate labor reserve, publishing capital spending data, and making staff vacancy assumptions…

    January 21, 2026

  • Overtime and Staffing Report FY18-25

    Overtime spending from Philadelphia’s General Fund grew 75.6 percent from FY18 to FY25, with total spending reaching $315 million in FY25. This growth was largely driven by persistently high vacancy rates, pandemic-related staffing challenges, and expanded services in departments such as Fire and Sanitation. As staffing levels recover, the report highlights the need for careful…

    January 13, 2026

  • Revenue Fact Sheet: Amusement Tax

    Philadelphia’s Amusement Tax applies a 5.0 percent levy on in-person entertainment like sporting events, concerts, and clubs, generating the vast majority of its revenue from professional sports teams. After a sharp pandemic-era drop, collections rebounded with a compound annual growth rate of 9.4 percent from FY16 to FY25 and are projected to grow more modestly…

    January 9, 2026

The mission of the Authority, as stated in its enabling legislation, is as follows:

It is hereby declared to be a public policy of the Commonwealth to exercise its retained sovereign powers with regard to taxation, debt issuance and matters of Statewide concern in a manner calculat­ed to foster the fiscal integrity of cities of the first class to assure that these cities provide for the health, safety and welfare of their citizens; pay principal and interest owed on their debt obligations when due; meet financial obligations to their employees, vendors and suppliers; and provide for proper financial planning procedures and budgeting practices.

Michael A. Karp

Secretary / Treasurer

Rosalind W. Sutch

Assistant Secretary / Treasurer

Patrick Burns

Board Member