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…

The Philadelphia Government Costs: Additional Reductions Required report assesses the City’s spending trends, noting that while budget surpluses have been achieved, the overall cost of government has not significantly decreased. It emphasizes the need for structural expenditure reductions in core services, social services, and fixed costs to align with the City’s declining economic base.