Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, Inc.

Newest PICA Publications

• Revenue Fact Sheet: Property-related Taxes

  Philadelphia’s Real Estate Tax and Realty Transfer Tax together generate about one-fifth of General Fund revenues, making them the City’s second largest revenue source. While the Real Estate Tax grows relatively steadily with property values and revaluations, the Realty Transfer Tax is far more volatile, responding sharply to interest rates, transaction volume, and high-value commercial…

  February 18, 2026

  

• Revenue Fact Sheet: Sales Tax

  Philadelphia’s local Sales Tax provides a stable and growing source of General Fund revenue, supporting City operations, the School District of Philadelphia, and long-term pension funding. From FY16 to FY25, Sales Tax collections grew at a 7.0 percent annual rate, outpacing overall General Fund revenue growth. Looking ahead, Sales Tax revenue is projected to continue…

  February 10, 2026

  

• 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