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Featured Publications
Government Operations, Efficiency, & Performance
Issue Brief
Tracking Progress & Building Trust: How Big Cities Share Capital Project Updates
June 26, 2025
Capital projects are major, long-term investments, and large cities are increasingly turning to dashboards and interactive tools to keep residents informed about their progress. This publication compares Philadelphia’s new efforts to share capital spending data with more advanced transparency platforms in New York City, Charlotte, and Boston, highlighting best practices for project tracking and communication….
Debt and Pensions
Issue Paper
Speed of Spend: Philadelphia’s Recent Record for Spending Borrowed Funds for Special Initiatives
June 25, 2025
Philadelphia’s H.O.M.E. Initiative plans to invest $800 million over four years in housing, with $161 million expected to be spent in the first year. This pace is significantly faster than previous initiatives such as Rebuild and the Neighborhood Preservation Initiative. The report outlines how factors like program design, administrative capacity, and stakeholder engagement can shape…
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
PICA Staff Report on QCMR
QCMR Report FY25 Q3
May 21, 2025
The Q3 report projects higher revenues and slightly higher spending than earlier estimates, resulting in a General Fund balance of $882 million—13.6% of revenues and well above the City’s internal target. Notable adjustments include increased revenue from Wage and Business Taxes, reduced personnel and debt service costs, and increased spending on 2026 events and wellness…
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 FY17-21 Five-Year Plan
July 30, 2016
PICA's Staff Report on The Five-Year Financial Plan for FY17-21 outlines Philadelphia’s financial priorities and fiscal strategies, focusing on balancing revenue growth with expenditure controls to maintain budget stability.
Board Materials
Minutes
June 21, 2016 Board Meeting Minutes
June 21, 2016
The PICA Board met on June 21, 2016, to review budget performance, approve contracts for revenue analysis and arbitrage services, and discuss overtime spending related to the Democratic National Convention (DNC). The Board approved resolutions engaging Charles Swanson for revenue forecasting and Parker Bond Consulting for arbitrage calculations.
Board Materials
Resolution
Resolution 2016-08 Approval of Arbitrage Rebate Services
June 21, 2016
PICA retained Parker Bond Consulting to provide arbitrage rebate consulting services for the reporting period ending June 30, 2016. The contract, valued at $4,000, ensures compliance with federal tax regulations regarding bond proceeds.
Board Materials
Resolution
Resolution 2016-07 Approval of Revenue Analysis Services
June 21, 2016
PICA retained Charles Swanson to review and analyze revenue assumptions in the City’s FY2017-FY2021 Five-Year Financial Plan, for a fee not exceeding $8,000. This engagement ensures PICA can assess the accuracy and reasonableness of the City’s financial projections.
News Articles and Press Releases
Press Release
PICA: City of Philadelphia’s Tax Revenue $23.5 Million Higher than Projected
June 3, 2016
Press Release announcing PICA report on the FY16Q3 QCMR. City of Philadelphia’s Tax Revenue $23.5 Million Higher than Projected.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
PICA Staff Report on QCMR
QCMR Report FY16 Q3
May 18, 2016
The third quarter FY16 QCMR projects General Fund obligations at $4.07 billion, an increase of $69.0 million, due to Papal visit costs, snow removal expenses, and increased overtime. Public safety and human services indicators show mixed results, with an increase in EMS response times and a decline in the child immunization rate.
Board Materials
Minutes
May 17, 2016 Board Meeting Minutes
May 17, 2016
The PICA Board met on May 17, 2016, to review the Five-Year Plan review process, approve a motion to study DROP costs, and discuss the Sweetened Beverage Tax’s financial impact. The Board approved a motion to work with the City and Council on an updated DROP analysis.
Board Materials
Minutes
April 19, 2016 Board Meeting Minutes
April 19, 2016
The PICA Board met on April 19, 2016, to review real estate tax assessments, discuss tax collection trends, and approve a resolution thanking former Chair Suzanne Biemiller for her service. The Board also received updates on the City’s Five-Year Plan review process.
Board Materials
Resolution
Resolution 2016-06 Recognizing Suzanne Biemiller
April 19, 2016
PICA recognized and expressed appreciation for the service of Suzanne Biemiller, who served as Chair in 2015 and 2016. Her leadership contributed to PICA’s mission of maintaining Philadelphia’s fiscal stability.
Board Materials
Minutes
March 15, 2016 Board Meeting Minutes
March 15, 2016
The PICA Board met on March 15, 2016, to review the Five-Year Financial Plan, approve the election of a new Board Chair, and discuss the proposed Sweetened Beverage Tax. The Board approved Kevin Vaughan as Chair and debated the tax’s impact on bond ratings and revenue forecasts.
PICA Reports on Philadelphia's Financial Reports
PICA Staff Report on QCMR
QCMR Report FY16 Q2
February 18, 2016
The second quarter FY16 QCMR projects General Fund revenues at $3.96 billion, $52.0 million above the Five-Year Plan, while obligations are projected at $4.04 billion, $44.3 million higher than initial estimates. The year-end fund balance is now projected at $85.3 million, an increase from earlier projections.
Board Materials
Minutes
February 16, 2016 Board Meeting Minutes
February 16, 2016
The PICA Board met on February 16, 2016, to review financial reports, approve the FY17 PICA Operating Budget, and discuss City pension issues. The Board approved a resolution urging the City to adopt pension reforms while debating funding strategies for the pension system.
Board Materials
Resolution
Resolution 2016-05 Encouraging Pension Reform
February 16, 2016
PICA issued a formal resolution urging Philadelphia officials to enact pension reform measures based on findings from the 2015 City Pension Report. The resolution highlights the growing costs and financial instability of the City’s pension system and calls for increased employee contributions and a broader adoption of the hybrid pension plan.
Board Materials
Resolution
Resolution 2016-04 Approval of FY17 PICA Operating Budget
February 16, 2016
PICA approved its FY2017 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.
News Articles and Press Releases
Press Release
PICA Releases First Annual Report on City Departments Goals and Performance Measures
February 10, 2016
Press Release announcing that PICA Releases First Annual Report on City Departments Goals and Performance Measures.
Government Operations, Efficiency, & Performance
Issue Paper
City of Philadelphia Performance: Measurement, Reporting, and Accountability
February 1, 2016
The City of Philadelphia Performance report assesses the City's ability to track and disclose performance metrics, finding gaps in strategic planning, goal-setting, and accountability.