PICA’s 2025 Fall Forum brought together regional leaders to explore how intergovernmental and cross-sector collaboration can drive inclusive economic growth and long-term fiscal stability. Featuring insights from Brookings Metro and economic development experts from Detroit, Atlanta, Columbus, and New York, the event highlighted the importance of coordinated planning, private-sector leadership, and alignment across education, workforce,…

Philadelphia has more than doubled its General Fund spending on economic development over the past decade, but lacks a system-wide strategy to evaluate the return on those investments. This publication analyzes how the City reports economic development spending, compares Philadelphia to peer cities, and recommends clearer goals, outcome-based measures, and regular reporting to guide future…

Philadelphia spent $313.7 million on General Fund overtime in FY25, exceeding the adopted overtime budget by 10 percent and marking a nearly 19 percent increase over FY24. Major drivers included contracted pay increases, persistent public safety staffing shortages, emergency responses, and special events like the Eagles’ Super Bowl run and the presidential election. While some…

The FY25 Q4 Quarterly City Managers Report (QCMR) projects increased General Fund revenues and increased spending compared to the approved FY25-29 Five-Year Plan, but a $46M decrease in revenues compared to Q3, with lower expectations from the Real Estate Tax and Sheriff fees. Overall, the City anticipates $384M more in revenue than FY24, driven by…

PICA’s Staff Report recommends PICA Board approval of the City of Philadelphia’s FY26–30 Five-Year Plan because it meets the requirements of the PICA Act, projecting positive year-end fund balances despite planned operating deficits from FY26 to FY29. The report highlights reasonable economic and revenue assumptions, the City’s continued investments in reserves, and the substantial $379…

Philadelphia’s H.O.M.E. Initiative plans to invest $800 million over four years in housing, with $161 million expected to be spent in the first year. This pace is significantly faster than previous initiatives such as Rebuild and the Neighborhood Preservation Initiative. The report outlines how factors like program design, administrative capacity, and stakeholder engagement can shape…

With legislation related to proposed H.O.M.E. Initiative borrowing set for introduction this week, it’s a good time for a refresher on how bond authorization works in the City of Philadelphia. When the City plans major long-term investments, it must obtain City Council authorization to borrow funds—though authorization does not automatically mean borrowing occurs immediately. Borrowing…

This reserve category sets aside funds to address potential but undefined fiscal risks, such as labor contract costs or federal funding reductions. From FY14 to FY24, Class 900 appropriations averaged $56.6 million annually, with funds transferred to departments when needed. While the balance of these reserves varies based on fiscal conditions, they provide critical flexibility…

Class 800 tracks transfers from the General Fund to other City funds, such as the Water Fund, Housing Trust Fund, and Budget Stabilization Reserve (BSR), as well as operating dollars allocated to capital projects. Spending in this category is highly variable and has grown significantly since FY14 due to new City Charter mandates and expanded…

This spending category covers the City’s repayment of general obligation debt, including interest, principal, and related costs. From FY14 to FY24, debt service remained stable as a share of the General Fund, averaging 3.3% annually. Most spending supports long-term debt tied to capital investments, with limited use of short-term borrowing due to improved fund balances…

The FY23 Quarterly Overtime Report for Q2 shows a 36.2% increase in overtime spending compared to FY22, with total expenditures reaching $133.4 million, the highest Q2 total on record.

PICA’s Philadelphia Pension Fund Fact Sheet examines the City’s ongoing efforts to reduce its unfunded pension liability and stabilize pension costs. The report highlights that the City contributed nearly $833 million to the Pension Fund in FY24—four times the normal cost of benefits earned—while projecting the fund to reach 80% funding by FY29 and full funding by FY33.