Publications

PICA renewed Ballard Spahr LLP’s engagement as General Counsel for one additional year, retroactive to February 20, 2025. The renewal follows the terms of the original agreement, which allows for three one-year renewal options at PICA’s discretion.

At this meeting, the Board approved the reappointment of Executive Director Marisa Waxman and received updates from the City, including labor contract developments and early FY26 budget planning. Staff highlighted delayed responses from the City regarding wellness center spending and previewed upcoming reports on tax revenue forecasting and overtime. The Treasurer’s Report and a discussion…

PICA approved its FY2026 Operating Budget, ensuring continued funding for the Authority’s financial oversight responsibilities. The approved budget will be submitted to the Governor and General Assembly of Pennsylvania.

PICA retained Charles Swanson to review and analyze revenue assumptions in the City’s FY2026-FY2030 Five-Year Financial Plan, for a fee not exceeding $9,000. This engagement ensures that PICA can assess the accuracy and reasonableness of the City’s financial projections.

The agenda for the January 21, 2025, board meeting includes updates from the City of Philadelphia, reports from the Executive Director and Treasurer, and a vote on Resolution No. 2025-07, which concerns the reappointment of the Executive Director. The meeting will also include time for public comment and new business discussions before adjournment.

Philadelphia’s largest tax streams—Wage and Earnings and Real Estate—are forecasted with high accuracy, typically within three percent of actual results. In contrast, smaller and more volatile revenue sources like the Realty Transfer and Amusement Taxes show far greater forecasting errors, reflecting their sensitivity to economic shifts and one-off events. By comparing 21 years of projections…

PICA reappointed Marisa G. Waxman as Executive Director for a new term, effective January 29, 2025. The appointment remains in effect until a successor is appointed, or her employment is otherwise terminated or resigned.

Spending on contracted services grew 73% between FY14 and FY24, outpacing overall General Fund growth. Most of the increase came from professional service contracts in departments like Human Services, Public Property, and the Managing Director’s Office, reflecting policy priorities like PHLpreK, SEPTA subsidies, and public safety grants. These contracts offer flexibility to deliver services that…

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…

Although a small share of the budget, Class 300/400 spending more than doubled between FY14 and FY24, largely driven by vehicle purchases. The Streets and Fleet Services departments accounted for over 60% of this growth, with additional increases in equipment, uniforms, and digital library materials. Spending patterns reflect post-COVID service expansion and rising costs for…

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…

Class 500 covers a range of City payments, including funding for schools and nonprofits, indemnities for lawsuits and accidents, and certain tax obligations. Since FY14, these expenses have more than doubled, largely due to increased contributions to the School District of Philadelphia and the Community College of Philadelphia. While indemnity costs also rose sharply—especially for…

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…

The Class 100 Fact Sheet outlines how the City of Philadelphia categorizes and tracks expenditures related to personal services, including wages, salaries, overtime, and benefits for all municipal employees. As the largest budget classification, Class 100 accounted for $3.7 billion, or 60.7% of General Fund spending in FY24, down from 68% in FY14, largely due…

The agenda for the February 25, 2025, board meeting includes a briefing on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s proposed 2025-2026 budget, financial updates from the City of Philadelphia, and votes on three resolutions concerning revenue analysis services, PICA’s FY26 operating budget, and general counsel approval. The meeting will also include reports from the Executive Director and Treasurer, as well as a discussion on row offices​.

The FY25 Quarterly Overtime Report for Q1 reports a 18% increase in overtime spending from FY24, reaching $70.4 million, with persistent staffing shortages continuing to drive costs.