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Featured Publications
Debt and Pensions
Fact Sheet
Debt and Taxes: Tax-Exempt vs. Taxable Bonds
April 13, 2026
Cities can lower borrowing costs by issuing tax-exempt bonds, but these come with restrictions that limit how funds can be used, particularly for projects that aren’t publicly owned. Taxable bonds offer greater flexibility for investments like affordable housing and neighborhood development, though they typically carry higher interest costs. Choosing between these financing tools requires balancing…
Debt and Pensions
Fact Sheet
Digging Into (and Out of) Debt
April 6, 2026
Philadelphia’s General Fund-supported debt declined by about nine percent over the past decade, even as the City continued to borrow for major investments in infrastructure, housing, and public facilities. This progress reflects consistent repayment of older obligations, including pension-related borrowing and legacy debts from prior fiscal challenges. Looking ahead, with annual debt service expected to…
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Five-Year Plan
Fact Sheet
Proposed FY27-31 Five-Year Plan Fiscal Highlights
March 17, 2026
Philadelphia’s proposed FY27–31 Five-Year Plan maintains positive fund balances in each year, but projects operating deficits in four of five years and a steady decline in reserves over time. Revenues are expected to grow by 10.3 percent over the Plan period, driven primarily by local taxes, while spending growth is more modest but still exceeds…
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
PICA Staff Report on QCMR
QCMR Report FY13 Q3
June 7, 2013
The third quarter FY13 QCMR projects General Fund revenues at $3.68 billion, $107.8 million above the Five-Year Plan, while obligations have risen $95.3 million above estimates. The year-end fund balance is projected at $140.9 million, an increase of $59.6 million from the original Plan projection.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
PICA Staff Report on QCMR
QCMR Report FY13 Q2
February 18, 2013
The second quarter FY13 QCMR projects General Fund revenues at $3.61 billion, $50.7 million above the Five-Year Plan, but obligations also increased by $31.7 million. The projected year-end fund balance is now $114.9 million, slightly lower than in Q1 but still above the Plan estimate.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
PICA Staff Report on QCMR
QCMR Report FY13 Q1
November 18, 2012
The first quarter FY13 QCMR projects General Fund revenues at $3.59 billion, an increase of $23.6 million over the Five-Year Plan, but also notes obligations exceeding estimates by $34.9 million. The projected year-end fund balance is $117.9 million, which is $36.5 million above the original Plan estimate.
PICA Annual Report
Annual Report
PICA Annual Report FY2012
November 1, 2012
The Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA) FY12 Annual Report provides an overview of the Authority's activities, financial oversight, and analysis of the City of Philadelphia’s fiscal condition over the past year. It includes key findings from PICA’s financial reviews, budget analyses, and policy recommendations aimed at ensuring the City's long-term financial stability as well as the Authority's financial statements and report from its auditors.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Five-Year Plan
Staff Report on the City of Philadelphia's Five-Year Plan
PICA Staff Report on the City of Philadelphia’s FY13-17 Five-Year Plan
September 5, 2012
PICA's Staff Report on The Five-Year Financial Plan for FY13-17 sets Philadelphia’s financial direction, balancing economic growth strategies with fiscal responsibility to sustain long-term budget stability.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
PICA Staff Report on QCMR
QCMR Report FY12 Q4
August 18, 2012
The fourth quarter FY12 QCMR projects General Fund revenues at $3.54 billion, $19.5 million above the Five-Year Plan, with obligations now $8.1 million higher than projected. The final year-end fund balance is estimated at $70.2 million, reflecting improved financial performance.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
PICA Staff Report on QCMR
QCMR Report FY12 Q3
May 18, 2012
The third quarter FY12 QCMR projects General Fund revenues at $3.53 billion, $15.3 million above the Five-Year Plan, with obligations expected to be $6.2 million higher than planned. The projected year-end fund balance increases to $65.4 million, reflecting stronger-than-expected tax revenues.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
PICA Staff Report on QCMR
QCMR Report FY12 Q2
February 18, 2012
The second quarter FY12 QCMR projects General Fund revenues at $3.52 billion, $14.5 million above the Five-Year Plan, with obligations expected to be $4.0 million higher. The projected year-end fund balance improves to $59.7 million, up from previous estimates.
Government Operations, Efficiency, & Performance
Issue Paper
An Efficiency and Effectiveness Study of the Philadelphia Fire Department
January 1, 2012
The Efficiency and Effectiveness Study of the Philadelphia Fire Department evaluates the department’s operations, identifying areas for improved resource allocation, response times, and service delivery.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
PICA Staff Report on QCMR
QCMR Report FY12 Q1
November 18, 2011
The first quarter FY12 QCMR projects General Fund revenues at $3.5 billion, slightly above the Five-Year Plan estimate, but obligations are expected to rise by $9.5 million. The projected year-end fund balance stands at $50.8 million, nearly $10 million below the original estimate.
PICA Annual Report
Annual Report
PICA Annual Report FY2011
November 11, 2011
The Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA) FY11 Annual Report provides an overview of the Authority's activities, financial oversight, and analysis of the City of Philadelphia’s fiscal condition over the past year. It includes key findings from PICA’s financial reviews, budget analyses, and policy recommendations aimed at ensuring the City's long-term financial stability as well as the Authority's financial statements and report from its auditors.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
PICA Staff Report on QCMR
QCMR Report FY11 Q4
August 18, 2011
The fourth quarter FY11 QCMR projects General Fund revenues to exceed the Five-Year Plan by $46.7 million, while obligations rise by $14.9 million. The final year-end fund balance is estimated at just $3.5 million, significantly below the original projection.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Five-Year Plan
Staff Report on the City of Philadelphia's Five-Year Plan
PICA Staff Report on the City of Philadelphia’s FY12-16 Five-Year Plan
July 26, 2011
PICA's Staff Report on The Five-Year Financial Plan for FY12-16 assesses Philadelphia’s financial strategies for maintaining balanced budgets while addressing economic challenges, revenue constraints, and expenditure pressures.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
PICA Staff Report on QCMR
QCMR Report FY11 Q3
May 18, 2011
The third quarter FY11 QCMR projects General Fund revenues at $79.5 million above the Five-Year Plan, though obligations are $46.0 million higher than expected. The projected year-end fund balance declines to $5.1 million, reflecting increased personnel costs and slower-than-expected reimbursements.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
PICA Staff Report on QCMR
QCMR Report FY11 Q2
February 18, 2011
The second quarter FY11 QCMR projects General Fund revenues to be $84.3 million above the Five-Year Plan, largely due to higher tax collections and intergovernmental aid. However, increased obligations reduce the expected year-end fund balance to $13.5 million, which is $20.4 million below the Plan estimate.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
PICA Staff Report on QCMR
QCMR Report FY11 Q1
November 18, 2010
The first quarter FY11 QCMR projects a General Fund balance of $33.7 million, $0.8 million higher than the Five-Year Plan projection. The report attributes this improvement to higher-than-expected tax revenue collections, though rising employee benefit costs remain a concern.
