Publications

The Board approved three resolutions, including renewals for General Counsel and revenue analysis services, as well as adoption of PICA’s FY27 operating budget. Members received updates from the City on staffing progress, federal funding risks, and the upcoming release of the FY26 Q2 Quarterly City Managers Report, alongside discussion of winter storm costs and revenue…

Philadelphia’s FY25 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report received an unmodified audit opinion and shows continued improvement in the City’s financial position. The General Fund balance increased to $1.18 billion in FY25, up 16.3 percent from FY24, while locally generated revenues from taxes and fees grew 7.4 percent. The report provides a comprehensive, audited snapshot of the…

At this meeting, the Board will receive updates from the City of Philadelphia on its proposed FY27 Budget and FY27-31 Five-Year Plan, along with reports from the Executive Director and Treasurer. The agenda does not include any resolutions for consideration at this meeting. Public comment and new business will follow prior to adjournment.

Citywide overtime spending reached $156.4 million through FY26 Q2, $3.2 million higher than the same period last year, with full-year spending projected to reach $340.0 million. Overtime remains driven by persistent staffing vacancies, pay increases, and operational demands such as special events and winter preparedness, though improving staffing levels have helped reduce the General Fund…

The City projects a FY26 General Fund balance of $509.2 million, or 8.1 percent of revenues, supported by a historically high starting balance even as operating deficits grow due to new reserve set asides and $50.0 million in unanticipated snow response costs. Total revenues are projected to be slightly above the Approved FY26–30 Plan for…

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…

Philadelphia’s smaller taxes, including the Mechanical Amusement Device, Outdoor Advertising, Tobacco, and Development Impact Taxes, collectively generate less than 0.1 percent of General Fund revenues but serve targeted policy purposes. Although collections grew at a 10.0 percent annual rate from FY16 to FY25, total revenue remains modest, with the Development Impact Tax now accounting for…

The PICA Board approved the second one-year renewal of its engagement with Ballard Spahr LLP to provide General Counsel services, effective February 20, 2026. The renewal is authorized under the terms of the original agreement, which allows for additional one-year extensions at the Authority’s discretion. The resolution also ratifies prior related actions and takes effect…

The PICA Board approved the retention of Charles Swanson to conduct an independent review of the City’s revenue assumptions and projections in the FY2027–FY2031 Five-Year Financial Plan. The engagement, for a fee not to exceed $9,000, supports PICA’s statutory responsibility to evaluate the reasonableness of the Plan’s underlying assumptions. The resolution authorizes the necessary actions…

The PICA Board approved and adopted the Authority’s operating budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, as required under the PICA Act. The resolution authorizes the Chairperson or Vice Chairperson to submit the approved budget to the Governor and General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The Board received updates on the City’s FY25 Annual Financial Report, which showed a record $1.19 billion General Fund balance driven by higher-than-expected BIRT and Realty Transfer Tax revenues and underspending from staffing vacancies. Members also heard about the passage of the state budget, staffing gains across City departments, and plans to establish a Federal…

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…

At this meeting, the Board will receive updates from the City, along with reports from the Executive Director and Treasurer. Members will consider three resolutions, including approval of General Counsel, renewal of revenue analysis services, and adoption of PICA’s FY27 Budget.

The Philadelphia Beverage Tax was enacted in 2017 to help fund Pre-K, community schools, and capital improvements, with the understanding that it would supplement rather than fully sustain these programs. Collections have declined steadily over time, with a compound annual growth rate of -1.8 percent from FY18 to FY25, reflecting reduced sugary drink consumption and…

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…

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…