Summary
The City projects increases in both revenues and expenses of over $90 million, according to PICA’s Staff Report on the City of Philadelphia’s Quarterly City Managers Report (“QCMR”) for the second quarter (October 1 – December 31). Better than expected tax collections are the primary driver for the projected increase in revenues, while projected increases in wages, advances/miscellaneous spending, and outside contracts are the primary causes for the projected increase in spending. While obligations were projected to reach $5 billion in the City’s FY2020-2024 five year plan, the second quarter QCMR marks the first time the City’s revenue projection has reached the $5 billion threshold. The estimated year-end General Fund balance for FY2020 increased to $352.0 million, $142 million higher than in the City’s Five Year Plan. PICA’s Staff Report also identifies key management issues and tracks departmental performance for several City departments: • Staffing. General Fund full-time positions totaled 22,170 in the second quarter of FY2020, an increase of 281 employees, or 1.3 percent since the second quarter of last year • Overtime. City Departments spent $23.6 million more on overtime in the second quarter, an increase of 26.3 percent • Police. 192 homicides were committed in the second quarter, eleven less than the same period last year, while the homicide clearance rate improved by 4.7 percentage points, to 51.3 percent • Human Services. The Dependent Population is at 5,023, the lowest figure since 2015, and is approaching 5,000 for the first time in 5 years